You're all lucky I have a huge amount of inspiration for this story. The lacking of reviews is troubling. And I'm giving you two updates in one day! Next week is my spring break, so you'll be getting multiple updates from all stories.

Ezra's classroom looked darker than usual to him. Stuck teaching in a preparatory school, the windows always seemed to be dim as the blinds were always shut. The students' attitudes often contributed to the atmosphere as well. Coming from families in the Upper East Side, they often had their noses stuck up in the air. It wasn't something Ezra, who had an easy going nature, liked, but the job paid well.

A few students seemed to pick up on his change of demeanor though. Ezra was grumpy and unenthusiastic. He often heard word that his class was the most fun out of out any in the English department, but apparently his skills were lacking. Ezra rarely did hands on projects that involved interaction anymore because he himself didn't feel like dealing with teenagers who only irritated him further. All he did was write up a reading assignment and sit at his desk to mope.

"Fitz, are you okay?" Ezra lifted his head up from staring at paperwork to meet the eyes of several curious students. Being concerned for someone other than themselves was a rare occurrence. It was a junior, Connor who whenever Ezra saw him seemed to have girls hanging from his arms in the hallway.

"Go back to your work, Connor."

"But seriously, Mr. Fitz," piped in a girl sitting in the back row. She could put down the nail file when his well being was concerned, but assumedly not when it was time for work. "Are you alright?"

"You're pretty down," said Connor once more. "Is it a girl? You look like you have girl troubles."

"Connor," Ezra said sternly, putting down his pen with a slight slam. "My personal business has nothing to do with your studies, nor is it appropriate for you to hear about it." He had snapped. "Go back to your work before I have to report you to the dean for inappropriate conduct."

Ezra went back to his work for the remaining half hour without disturbance. His outburst had been completely out of character, but students prying about Aria had tested him to the farthest extent. The students filed out quietly and quickly. For the next two periods, Ezra was free. Like most times this occurred, he graded for the first period and then grabbed coffee in the teacher's lounge.

The first period passed quickly and soon enough, Ezra was descending down to the teacher's lounge with premium coffee. The jolt was exactly what he needed to get him out of his funk, at least for the rest of the school day.

He expected strange looks from the other teachers. Word spread fast around schools such as this one. A practical temper tantrum thrown by a teacher was big news. Ezra ignored them though and crossed straight to the coffee maker to make himself a mug.

The only co-worker brave enough to face him was his long time friend, Hardy Mitchell, a history teacher.

"I heard you started crying in front of your class today," the other man remarked, nonchalantly reaching for a mug alongside Ezra. Hardy was about the same age with dirty blonde hair. Outside of school, he was notorious ladies man. More often than not, he tried to set Ezra up on a blind date or take him out to a club, but his attempts never remained fruitful as the girls never were Aria.

"I didn't start crying," Ezra replied in monotone.

"Connor Edwards claimed last period that he saw tears in your eyes."

"I snapped. It's not appropriate for a student to pry into the personal affairs of a teacher."

"Well, what is exactly going on, Ez," Hardy pressed. "You're not yourself."

Ezra didn't reply. Instead, he poured the coffee out of its gourmet maker and into his mug. Next came the fixings, which for him had always been a spoonful of sugar and nothing else. Ezra preferred his coffee next to black. If it was too sweet or too milky, he couldn't stomach the drink.

"Nothing's going on," Ezra finally said, lying through his teeth.

"Is it Aria? You only act this way when it's about her." Hardy knew about Ezra's love for his best friend. But, the man didn't have a clue about the night exactly a month ago that they had shared, nor that he had told her how he felt.

Unable to keep up a front at his friend's assumption, Ezra's façade broke. "I told her how I felt…and we had this amazing night. And she's been ignoring me for the past month."

"Wait," Hardy said incredulously. "By night, you mean…"

"Yes, Hardy. That's what I mean. But…I haven't seen or spoken to her in a month and it's really eating at me. I feel like I'm losing her when we barely even had a chance."

"Call her then," Hardy reasoned. "Call her and tell her that you two need to talk and are going to one way or another. It would be better if you did it on your own accord."

"She's not going to pick up."

"Text her then."

"That's hardly professional."

"It's not about being professional," Hardy said, swiping the mug in Ezra's hand that was still steaming and yet to be sipped from. Luckily for him, they both took their coffee the same way. "It's about talking to her and setting things straight. Just call her." Hardy patted Ezra on the back and hurried off. Ezra barely realized his coffee had been stolen. His mind was mulling over Hardy's suggestion. With resolve, Ezra took out his iPhone and pulled up Aria's number for the first time in a long time.

We need to talk. Come over later. I'm not taking no for an answer, Aria. I'll be home around six. Come any time after- Ezra

Apartment 3B had been a home to Aria as much as her own apartment. Countless movie nights had been spent there was well as the occasional sleepover where she would crash on his couch after a long night and Ezra would carry Aria to his bed and he's reside on his sofa. Chinese takeout cartons had been shared in his living room, a water fight with his sink in the kitchenette. Every good memory had happened in that tiny apartment.

Now, something Aria wasn't sure she could determine as good or bad was to occur in the very living room of firsts. Then again, this was the first time she had to tell a man she was pregnant. Spencer had taken Aria to the hospital to have an actual test performed. That sealed the deal and Spencer had practically pushed Aria into the lobby of Ezra's apartment building. That and his text from earlier had been good enough reason to show.

It was a bit earlier than Ezra had intended for her to arrive, but Aria knew where he kept the spare key. His absence would give her time to formulate just how she would break the news. Spencer's words from the previous day resonated with her.

Ezra wouldn't run. He couldn't run. If he loved her as much as he had described that night, he wouldn't flat out abandon her. Not only did his declaration prove that, but Ezra's character as well. Aria knew firsthand from all the years that he wasn't the leaving kind, nor was he the type to abandon someone when they needed him most.

It was safe to say that Aria needed him now more than she had ever in their friendship; much more than anyone she'd needed over the course of her life and that included parents and various friends.

Twisting the key into the lock, Aria entered Ezra's lonesome apartment for the half hour she had free before he came home. It gave her time to formulate how she'd tell him, except that only made Aria more nervous than she was before. Preparing a speech had never been her forte.

She gazed around the apartment, instantly feeling comfortable. Everything was in its rightful place, even the books she'd stored away the last time she had helped Ezra clean the place up. Usually it was messy and disorganized.

Aria couldn't help but notice the open bottle of scotch and the few spare tumblers lying around. Instantly, she wished he hadn't been drinking because of her, but it seemed highly unlikely. When distressed, a glass or two…or four of scotch helped soothe Ezra.

His bed was made and the dishes were put away. Maybe he was being meticulous to pass the time that they had spent apart? Usually, most of Ezra's time was spent either at work or with Aria herself. Since she'd stripped him of being with her for a month, Ezra obviously had to have come up with something else to take up excess hours.

The half an hour passed quickly and soon enough there was a click at the door. Aria jumped and turned around just in time to see Ezra sigh. He probably was thinking she wasn't coming; she hadn't texted him back in confirmation in the first place.

Ezra turned his back to the door and literally jumped at the sight of Aria sitting there on his couch. Her eyes were streaked with what seemed to be unshed tears, but even amidst the angst they were going through, his heart beat fast just looking at her.

"Aria," Ezra choked, putting down the leather briefcase; something she had gotten him on his first day of work. "You're…early. Really early."

"I know," she said, gulping. The pit of her stomach churned although nowadays, Aria wasn't sure if it was just from being nervous or if it was from morning sickness. Either of the two worked, but she hoped and prayed she couldn't throw up on Ezra's floor. "But there's something I have to tell you."

"Yeah, me too. Listen…the other night, I…"

"I don't regret it," Aria said. "I only regret my behavior afterwards." She motioned for Ezra to come over and sit beside her. Despite having to look him in the eye, Aria didn't want him to fall over out of shock. And she wanted to have a hold on him so he couldn't go running out the door. It's not every day that you hear from the best friend you're in love with and slept with that she'd pregnant. Aria would be in shambles if he freaked out and left her all alone.

"It was wrong of me to shut you out. It was childish too. I should've sucked it up and talked to you. I've practically put everything in jeopardy now, haven't I?"

"What do you mean," Ezra asked, reaching out to take her hand lightly. He needed Aria to know that he'd be there for her always. Forever and always.

"You don't hate me?"

"I could never hate you, Aria," Ezra said.

"Then please don't hate me when I say what I'm going to say next, but I'm really going to need you over the next few months. Actually, more like the next eighteen years if you can stand me for that long."

Ezra's stomach dropped. He knew what was coming next. Although, he wasn't upset, nor was he angry. He wanted a life with Aria, even if he had to work for it. "Why," he replied, playing along although he knew would be coming out from Aria's mouth in the matter of seconds.

"I'm pregnant. And the baby is yours." Tears began to stream down her face. Ezra was in shock, put took her into his arms in an instant. "Please don't leave me alone," Aria begged. "I can't do it without you."

"I wouldn't leave you for the world," Ezra said, rocking them back and forth. He brushed a matted curl from Aria's forehead and held her a bit tighter. "We're going to do this together. Because that's what parents do. Everything will be alright; think of this as a new door for us."

Aria grappled his strong arms and sighed, trying to silent her tears. Spencer had been right and suddenly, her condition didn't feel like a punishment from karma anymore.

"You promise," she pleaded, looking up to Ezra with her enlarged hazel eyes.

"I promise," Ezra said firmly, stroking Aria's hair and holding her once more against his chest. "I swear I'll always be there for what's going to be our family, even if we're not together or we have to work towards that point. I'm not going to give up."