This is my longest chapter yet, so it took a little longer to develop. Sorry for the long wait. As always, thanks for the love. Here's the next chapter.

Aria

Aria woke up on a Saturday morning, not really looking forward to her father's return. Things had been extremely awkward between the two since he found out about her and Ezra's private activities. It wasn't to hard to avoid him for the two days a week he was usually home, but with spring break coming up, he would be home for an entire week. To make matters worse, her mother's parents were coming to Rosewood to help her celebrate her eighteenth birthday. She wasn't sure exactly how much Sharon and Thomas Rose knew about what was going on in her life, and was worried about how her grandparents would react to her relationship with Ezra. She was sure the age difference wasn't going to be a problem, hell her grandfather is ten years older than her grandmother, but knowing how Sharon, who was never a fan of Byron's, reacted to finding out about his infidelity with his student, Aria feared she wouldn't approve of this relationship. Aria was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of a knock on the door.

"Come in," she said to whomever was on the other side.

The door opened, and she smiled when her mother walked in.

"Morning," Ella said, taking a seat on her daughter's bed.

"Morning, mom."

"So I was wondering if you would like to go with me to pick up your grandparents from the airport?"

"Yeah, sure, just let me get ready."

Aria got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, she made her way downstairs and found her parents talking in the kitchen.

"Mom, I'm ready," Aria said interrupting her parent's conversation, which was probably about her and Ezra's sleepover. They stop their discussion, and both turned to face their only daughter.

"Okay, let's get going, sweetie."

Aria and Ella both said their goodbyes to Byron before making their way to Ella's car and heading towards Philadelphia International Airport. After a brief silence, Aria finally decided to speak.

"What were you and dad talking about?"

Ella gave her daughter a sympathetic look and answered her question, "Your dad doesn't think it's a good idea for Ezra to join us for your birthday dinner tomorrow night."

Aria couldn't believe her ears. Anger began to grow inside of her. How could her father think that she could celebrate such a milestone birthday without her boyfriend.

"Of course he's coming!" Aria responded a little louder than she intended.

As Ella pulled up to a red light, she turned to her daughter and said, "That's what I told him, Aria. I think the only reason he doesn't want him there is because if your grandparents find out how you two met, that they will bring up his past with Meredith."

Aria just nodded, and turned her attention to the passing scenery. She really didn't want to cause any kind of argument while her grandparents were there, but she knew that Ezra was her future, and one day he would be apart of her family. Aria was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn't realize that the hour drive to the airport had come to an end. Ella pulled into the passenger pickup area, and saw her parents standing by the curb. Ella pressed the trunk release button inside the car, before both she and Aria exited the car to meet their loved ones.

"Mom, dad," Ella said to catch the older couple's attention.

"Ella, hi," Sharon responded as she engulfed her daughter in a hug. After she released Ella, she turned towards her granddaughter,

"Hi my pookie bear."

Aria blushed at the nickname that she normally hated, but still allowed her grandparents to call her anyway. "Hi, Nana," Aria said before grabbing her in for a hug as well.

"Am I invisible here?" Thomas asked mockingly, just before both made their way over to hug him as well. After they finished their hellos, Thomas placed the bags in the trunk, before they all climbed in the car. Thomas took a seat in the front, while Sharon and Aria both climbed in the backseat. Once everyone was situated, the began to make the trip back to Rosewood. During the drive home, the three adults made conversation, while Aria texted with Ezra, telling him her grandparents had arrived. Sharon looked over after hearing a soft chuckle come from Aria, and noticed the huge smile on her face.

"I can't believe we haven't seen you since you guys returned from Iceland, you have become a very beautiful young woman," Sharon said to her granddaughter with a huge smile on her face. "I'm sure you're beating the boys off with a stick." The three adults all laughed as Aria blushed at her Nana's comment.

"So pookie, do you or don't you have a boyfriend?" Thomas asked turning to face her in the backseat.

"Yeah," she responded casually, "His name is Ezra, and you'll both meet him tomorrow."

The rest of the ride home went by with the conversation finally moving from Aria's love life. Before any of the realized, they were pulling into Rosewood, headed to Ella's apartment, where Sharon and Thomas would be staying for the weekend.

Ezra

Ezra stood in front of his closet, wondering exactly what to wear to meet Aria's grandparents in about an hour. Aria had spent the day with her friends, then after the family dinner, she and Ezra were going to a small party that Spencer was hosting at her house. Since the dinner was just at the Grille, Ezra finally decided on a sweater and a pair of khakis, got dressed and made the short drive to the Grille. As Ezra entered the restaurant, he noticed Aria and her family already there, seated at a booth in the back corner. After making eye contact with Aria, Ezra made his way over to where the family sat, making his presence known. As soon as he stood in front of Aria, she stood and gave him a quick kiss, not wanting to make anyone uncomfortable.

"Happy birthday, babe," Ezra said before taking her in his arms for a hug.

"Thanks," Aria responded, before taking his hand and turning towards her grandparents. "Nana, Pop Pop, this is my boyfriend, Ezra Fitz." Both of her grandparents stood to shake his hand, before Sharon spoke, as Thomas gave him a questioning stare,

"It's nice to meet you, Ezra, I'm Sharon Rose, and this is my husband, Thomas." Ezra said his hello to both, before taking a seat between Aria and Mike. As the small dinner party waited for the orders to come up, Thomas continued sum up Ezra. He could tell he was definitely older than Aria, but wasn't sure by how much. Finally deciding to find out he asked,

"So, Ezra, do you go to Hollis?"

The entire Montgomery clan all looked up at the question, knowing how uncomfortable the answer could be for the older couple, who were not understanding about Byron's student/teacher affair. Aria placed a hand on Ezra's thigh and gave it a squeeze, letting him know it was okay to tell them the truth.

"Actually, I graduated two years ago," Ezra answered, hoping that would be a sufficient answer.

"Oh," Sharon said, "so what do you do for a living?"

Ezra looked over at Aria, who just nodded, before he answered, "I'm an English teacher at St. Joseph's Boy's School in Philadelphia."

Both Thomas and Sharon had a confused look on their faces. Thomas then asked,

"Well, how did you two meet then?"

Aria decided to answer this time,

"We meet at a bar right after we got back from Iceland."

"What were you doing in a bar?" Thomas asked, looking at his daughter and her ex-husband, wondering why they would allow her to got to one at her age.

"I was getting something to eat while waiting for Mike to finish his lacrosse practice, and he and I got to talking and realized we had a lot in common. Don't worry Pop Pop, I wasn't drinking."

Thomas could notice the uncomfortable look on Byron's face, and began to wonder if they were telling them everything. He knew that Aria having to parents who were both teachers, and her love of literature, that the two would hit it off, but he wondered why neither Aria or Ella ever mentioned him when they spoke on the phone.

"Why all the secrecy? No one ever mentioned Aria being in such a serious relationship before."

In that moment, Aria concluded that there was no reason to sidestep the truth any longer. They would either accept them, or they won't.

"Because he used to work at Rosewood, and he was my teacher."

Anger soon began to build in Thomas' eyes. He couldn't believe what he was hearing from his pookie bear.

"You dated you're teacher!" Thomas responded a little loud, causing some of the other customers to look over at their table.

"Thomas-," Sharon began, but was cut off by her husband,

"How could you two be okay with this? I mean I know that Byron has questionable values when it come to his students, but I can't believe you would allow this Ella."

Aria, Ella and Byron were all stunned at what Thomas had said, causing Aria to get up, with tears in her eyes, and running to the restroom.

"Thomas Allen Rose, that is enough!" Sharon chastised her husband in a hushed tone, "you should be ashamed of yourself." After saying what she had to say, Sharon got up from her seat and followed Aria to the ladies room. The tension at the table quickly lessened, as Thomas kicked himself for the pain he caused his only granddaughter.

Aria

Aria sat in the stall, trying to wipe the tears that continued to fall from her eyes. She knew her grandparents wouldn't take the news that well, but thought they would at least give her a chance to explain the way Ella did. She soon heard the door to the restroom open before she heard hear Nana call out to her,

"Pookie?"

Aria didn't answer because she wasn't looking forward to being lectured on how inappropriate her relationship with Ezra was.

"I'm not angry," Sharon said, trying to calm Aria's nerves.

Aria got up from sitting on the toilet, and opened the door to face her. Sharon did something that Aria wasn't expecting, she walked over and took the girl in her arms, stroking her back as Aria hugged her back.

"Your grandfather feels horrible about what he said."

Aria looked her grandmother in the eye and asked, "Why aren't you mad?"

"Because I'm in no position to judge you for falling for an older man."

"But, dad-,"

"Your father cheated on my daughter, and broke up a happy family. I can see how much Ezra loves you, and even though I'm not thrilled that he was your teacher, he didn't cheat on his wife and kids for a cheap fling like Byron did."

Aria just nodded, as her grandmother gave her soft kiss to her forehead, before helping her clean up her running makeup, and the two made their way back out to where everyone else sat, waiting for their return. As they approached the table, Thomas stood up, regret on his face, hoping his granddaughter wouldn't hate him.

"I'm sorry for what I said, baby, I just want to protect you. But after talking with Mike and Byron, I realize that I don't have to protect you from him. Besides, you're old enough to date whomever you choose to date."

Aria smiled at him, before throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him tighter then she had in a long time.

"It's okay, Pop Pop," Aria said after a brief silence, "I understand this is a lot to take in, but I love him, and he loves me."

"I know, pookie," Thomas said before taking his seat. Aria made her way back to her's as well, just before the waitress brought over their dinner. The rest of dinner went off without a hitch, everyone getting along, and Thomas getting to know Ezra.

After their dinner ended, Aria said goodbye to her family, before getting into Ezra's car along with Mike, and heading to Spencer's, after agreeing to meet her grandparents for lunch the following day, before they head back home. The trio rode in a comfortable silence, with Ezra and Aria holding hands, as they made their way to the Hastings manor. Once they arrived, the three made their way up the walkway to the door. Before Aria could ring the bell, Spencer threw the door open, clearly already tipsy, and pulled Aria into a hug. After acknowledging both Mike and Ezra, Spencer invited all three of them in, and lead them to where Hanna, Caleb, Emily, Paige, Alison, Mona, Jason, Toby and a girl she didn't recognize were waiting for them. Aria was surprised, to say the least, that the DiLaurentis children were there. After what happened in New York, Alison and Jason went to live with their father, following their mother's death. Aria made her way over to hug both of her friends, telling them how happy she was that they returned to celebrate her birthday. After Mike and Ezra both hugged Alison and shuck Jason's hand, Jason introduce them to his new girlfriend, Sasha, and then they proceeded to enjoy the small party. Aria soon noticed the bottle of beer, vodka, scotch (for Ezra), and the cake that sat on the kitchen counter. After they all sang 'Happy Birthday' and had Aria blow out the '18' candle that sat on top, they group drank and partied until 1 a.m.

As always, reviews always welcome.