Chapter 6- Real Life – Kind of
A/N- I hope you guys are enjoying this story? I hope to write the rest of the honeymoon soon (note there will be NO M RATED THEMES) and then perhaps move into other aspects of the story. This is a fairly short chapter, but I wanted to work through my writers block and get something posted! I'd love to hear from all of you guys to see if you like this format or this story! Thanks everyone! Enjoy Chapter 6!
Aria was snapped out of her blissful reminiscing by the sound of Ezra walking through the door. She smiled at him brightly, but put a finger to her lips to tell him Leah was still sleeping. Ezra hung his wet coat and satchel by the front door as Aria walked over to him.
"Hey," Aria whispered, putting her hands on the back of his neck. "Welcome home."
"Hey back," Ezra said, pecking her nose and then leaning his forehead against Aria's. "Lonely were we?"
"Very," Aria whispered back, her breath fanning over his face. "Leah has been asleep for a while and I've had no one to talk to. I miss work, I miss my friends. This apartment is so tiny."
"Well I'm home now," Ezra said, guiding Aria over to the kitchen.
"I know. Still. I wish you were home all the time," Aria teased, fiddling with the tie on Ezra's neck.
"But then we would be poor, and living out of a cardboard box," Ezra joked. "Plus," he continued as he opened up the fridge to get the leftovers, "You love the kid and I know you would worry every second you were gone. You'll find something to do. And plus, it's going to be the holiday's soon enough, and there will be plenty to do then, you'll miss these quiet days," he said, turning back to Aria as he placed the container on the counter.
"You're right," Aria sighed, smiling.
"Hey missy, no complaining, you know I wish I could switch roles with you anyday."
"I know," Aria said laughing quietly, taping him on the nose. Ezra turned back to the microwave and began putting the leftovers onto plates as Aria opened the fridge to get the water out.
"Hey, so my mom's back tonight from her cruise," Ezra said. "She's dying to meet Leah, she will never forgive herself for leaving the night before she was born." Ezra chucked.
"Ah sweet!" Aria exclaimed. "Maybe she'll want to go out for lunch or something. Do you have a prep around lunch time tomorrow?"
Ezra thought for a moment. "Yeah, um, 12 to 1 is lunch and then I have prep after until 2. That should be plenty of time," he added.
"Perfect! Do you want to call her and ask her if tomorrow at the Grille around quarter after will work? I'm so excited that's she back!" Aria said as Aria and Ezra moved towards their living room that also served as a dining room to sit down to dinner.
"Sure. She'll love that," Ezra said, digging into his supper.
Ezra finished tucking Leah back into her cradle, she had woken up not long after Aria and Ezra had begun eating. Crying and whimpering, she had snapped the couple out of their comfortable silence. But Ezra hadn't minded. He wished he could see his two favorite girls more than he did. He feared he would miss out on a lot of Leah's milestones, no matter how simple, if he continued to carry the schedule he did.
Ezra leaned down to kiss his baby girl's head tenderly, then took the two swift steps over to their bed, where Aria was climbing in and scooching over to her side by the wall. Ezra climbed in after her, pulling the covers up over the both of them. Kissing Aria's forehead, he leaned back to rest his head on his pillow.
"Z?" Aria asked.
"Yeah?" Ezra asked back, reaching under the covers to find Aria's hand.
"Do you ever think about our wedding?" Aria said, playing with his fingers.
"All the time," Ezra said, turning to look at her in the lamp light. "Why do you ask?"
"I just saw our wedding picture and got swept up by memories today while Leah was asleep."
"Well, mostly I remember the honeymoon," Ezra teased.
"Ezra!" Aria swatted at his bare chest.
"Its true. But of course I remember the wedding. Happiest day of my life, remember? I married the most wonderful girl. Bright, intelligent, beautiful."
"Do I know her?" Aria played along.
"Probably not," Ezra said, smiling at the ceiling. Aria huffed, giggling.
"I love your laugh, do you know that?" Ezra asked tenderly. He reached over to wrap a piece of Aria had missed around her bun.
"I hate it." Aria said honestly.
"No!" Ezra gasped. Aria laughed louder before covering her mouth as to not wake her sleeping daughter.
"I love you." Aria stated simply.
"I love you more." Ezra said, as Aria turned to face the wall, inviting Ezra to wrap his arms around her. He accepted, and kissed her ear, before he noticed her breath had become steady and deep, indicating if she wasn't already asleep she was probably close to it.
Ezra wasn't tired, his sleep schedule had gotten screwed around with because of Leah, and he wasn't tired this early anymore. Ezra thought about his banter only minutes ago with Aria. He remembered back to their wedding, his nerves, and her face as she walked down the aisle, the perfection of it all. He wasn't kidding when he said that it was the happiest day of his life. Nor was he kidding when he said he remembered the honeymoon.
Ezra smiled at the beautiful girl sitting beside him on the plane. His wife, he kept repeating in his head, but it didn't feel real yet. It felt too good to be true. He was so lucky. He often wondered how he had gotten so lucky, and he always reconciled his thoughts with one other; because of fate. To think, if he hadn't decided to go for a drink at his favorite dive of a bar, he would have never met her.
"Ezra," Aria's voice rang through his thoughts and snapped him out of them.
"Yes?" He said, stroking a piece of hair out of her face. Aria closed her eyes briefly and smiled. She grabbed his hand and held it in her lap, playing with his fingers.
"I'm exhausted," Aria said, giggling quietly, as everyone on the plane was pretty much asleep; Ezra and Aria's parents had splurged and bought them a week's vacation in Cabo, and Aria and Ezra had had no idea until the wedding party had wind down, late into the evening. Hanna had found out about the surprise and had gotten them the tackiest bride and groom sweatshirts to ever been seen, but Ezra and Aria had been good sports and had put them on anyway, too excited and tired from the day and the plans of Mexico. Ezra's brother had packed him a suitcase, and Aria's friends had packed her's, so they had been all set.
"I know. Try to get some sleep? This flight, as fast as it got us out of Rosewood, I mean, 2:00 am what were they thinking? We're going to have to sleep for ever once we land," Ezra said.
"I'll try. I'm just really excited," Aria said, looking up from their entangled hands in her lap.
"Well, I'll get you a blanket," Ezra said, reaching above him. Aria smiled.
"Hey husband?" Aria whispered as Ezra reached above to get the blanket, testing the word out. Ezra looked down and grinned at his new title.
"Yes my wife?" Ezra chucked quietly, winking at Aria before focusing at the task at hand. Aria tugged on his loose track pants.
"Get down here, mister," Aria stifled a giggle. Ezra nearly bumped his head on the overhead compartment on the way down, blanket in tow. He pulled the arm rest up as he sat down so Aria could cuddle in before he reached down to recline his seat, then Aria's.
"Why so eager Mrs. Fitz?" Ezra whispered in her ear. Aria slapped him on the arm.
"Why, Mr. Fitz, whatever might you be implying?" Aria said as she snuggled in closer, laying her head down on his shoulder.
"Well, you might have forgotten, but this is our honeymoon, my dear wife."
"I didn't forget. I just don't understand what you are implying a honey-moon means."
"Oh whatever. Close your eyes, Pookie-Bear," Ezra added with teasing tone. Aria sat up and glared at him.
"Pull that nickname out again and you won't even be close to defining this trip as a honeymoon."
"Oh, but I know you can't resist me and my boyish charms. It won't be long before you're begging for my attention," Ezra teased.
"Try me," Aria said, turning her head toward the window, crossing her arms like a child. Ezra chuckled, deciding he would test this out. He turned towards the aisle and closed his eyes peacefully. Not fifteen minutes later did the flight attendant walk by to see the newlyweds cuddled up in the middle of the two seats. Even in sleep, the two gravitated towards one another.