Because I need positive vibes in my life right now I am posting this because well my family is giving me a headache and I know my amazing readers will bring a smile onto my face.

Chapter 5

"Mom are you sure you want to do this?" Aria asked. She was standing in the doorway to her mother's house the one she used to share with her father. "I mean it is a lot to take on."

"Taking three eight year olds for one night so their parents can relax a little? No never" She said sarcastically as Aria rolled her eyes.

"Mom I am serious"

"And I am as well Aria. Go relax Lilia will be fine with me for one night. I have been dying to have my granddaughter spend time at my own house for the past two months since you have been here."

"No Ezra got it? I mean it mom do not let him come over here while she is here."

"Aria I would never do something like that to upset you besides I am pretty sure he has no intentions of coming to my house for any more chit chat."

Ella gave her daughter a small hug and closed the door and then Aria was left standing there alone on the front porch. A strange feeling washed over her and she climbed down the stairs and went across the street to her own house. It felt nice to be able to live that close to her mother again, living across the country in California was amazing, but nothing compared to being home Aria thought as she unlocked her door. It was a quiet night for Aria who lit her fire place in the living room and curled up into a blanket to grade papers for her students. She was truly amazed by each of them as each student was interested in what she had to teach, or at least that is what she was hoping. Soon enough Aria was sound asleep on her couch her papers half way graded when she heard a knock on the door that startled her. Looking at her phone she realized it was close to one in the morning. She jumped off the couch thinking it might be an emergency with Lilia and ran to the door flinging it open.

"Ezra? What are you doing here?"

"I came to see the most beautiful girl on the planet" He responded slurring his words as he stumbled into Aria's house.

"Have you been drinking?"

"Only a lot"

"Ok big boy let's get you over to my couch before you break something"

"I already broke something big already" he said as Aria helped him to her couch.

"Please tell me you did not drive here and crash your car."

"No bigger" he slurred looking at her "I broke you" he poked her chest just above her heart causing it to skip a beat.

"How did you break me Ezra?" She asked hoping to get some answers since he was drunk.

"I lied to you about so so many things Aria" he slurred leaning in close to her as he had a hard time controlling himself to sit up. "I lied about knowing you when we first met, about Alison, about too many things, but I never lied about one thing."

"What is the one thing Ezra?"

"How much I loved you. I still have the ring."

"Ring? What ring?" She asked completely confused at this point.

"The ring I was going to pro-" he slurred as he fell onto Aria as they sat on the couch. He reached down and picked up his bottle that he had dropped and took another swig.

"Pro what Ezra?" Aria asked determined for answers.

"No I can't say you will be mad. My lips are sealed" he looked up at her from her lap "Unless you want to un-seal them"

"Ok let's get you to a bed. You can't leave now it is far too late."

She put his arm over her shoulder and led him up the stairs to her bedroom practically throwing him on her bed. He was passed out almost as soon as he hit her bed. Grabbing some shorts and an old Hollis t-shirt she went into her bathroom to take a shower since she had fallen asleep on the couch she hadn't gotten to one yet. The hot water felt good on her tense shoulders and for a few moments she let the water just rain down her back, working its way down, relaxing all her muscles as it went. Sometimes a hot shower does the body good she thought as she grabbed her conditioner to condition her hair. He mind was relaxing slowly as she washed her body and hair as if the water and Ezra were a spa treatment that she never wanted to end.

A half an hour later she found herself wrapped in a towel standing in front of her bathroom mirror staring at the reflection that looked back at her. Ezra Fitz was passed out in her bedroom right now she mumbled to herself as she brushed her teeth and she did not know how to process the fact that he was even there let alone passed out on her bed. How could this happen? How did this happen? She asked herself more importantly. It didn't take long for Aria to finish getting ready for bed, but for some reason she found herself lingering in her bathroom afraid to leave the safety of it. No you are strong Aria you can do this she thought to herself it is only a short distance to the door no big deal just breathe and you can do it. Opening the door an inch she peeked her head into her room and saw him still passed out on her bed so she opened the door a bit more and slipped out. She started inching towards the door when she saw a glimmer out of the corner of her eye coming from Ezra's pocket.

Curiosity took over at that point and she snuck over to her bed. Careful as to not wake him Aria slid her hand into his pocket and pulled out a diamond ring. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever laid her eyes on and probably cost more than her house. The look was vintage, very Ezra, very Aria, there was not a stone out of place and the ring was gorgeous. If she didn't know about it she probably would have drooled over it at the jewelry store, it was just the type of ring Aria would have picked out herself. She slipped it onto her finger and it fit perfectly like Cinderella's slipper after the ball. Shaking her head she stood up and slid into her bed, it was not like they had never slept together anyway and nothing was going to happen.

The next morning she woke up to the light shining through her curtains. She rolled over and found herself in Ezra's arms. Somehow during the night he must have wrapped his arms around her. He wasn't awake yet and he looked so peaceful sleeping Aria thought. She did not want to disturb him from his sleep so just turned over again and nuzzled closer to him. Her mind was telling her that this was not right and she should get up, but everything else was telling her to stay there, there might not be many of these mornings left.

"Good morning" Ezra mumbled as he nestled his head onto Aria.

"Good morning Ezra" Aria replied turning towards him his arms still wrapped around her.

"Sorry about last night. I probably should not have come over. I was drunk."

"It's ok Ezra, you are fine. I would rather it be my house then-well someone else's house" she said as she brushed a lock of hair from her face. All of a sudden Ezra grabbed her hand gently.

"Where did you find this?" he asked looking at the ring.

"Uhh" Aria stumbled trying to think of a lie that would work and not get him mad. "In my bed, I thought maybe it fell out of your pocket so I put it on my finger for safe keeping." She took the ring off her finger and held it out to him. "Here it probably is supposed to go on a finger that is more important than mine."

"I can assure there is no one more important than you are"

"ARIA!" A voice yelled from downstairs which quickly turned into four voices.

"It's Hanna, Spencer, Emily, and Alison" Aria whispered jumping out of her bed with Ezra.

"Aria your car is in the driveway we know you are here and we are coming up!" Spencer yelled as Aria heard their footsteps start to ascend the stairs.

"What do I do?" Ezra said panicked as he searched for his shirt which Aria had not realized was even off. The door handle began to turn and Aria shoved him into her bathroom and shut the door just as the girls came in.

"Sorry was in the bathroom"

"That's ok we were bored so we decided to come over for a much needed girl's day." Hanna said with a smile as she pulled out her credit card. "Retail therapy much?"

"That sounds amazing guys-"

"Whose shirt is this?" Spencer asked picking Ezra's shirt from off the floor.

"Umm" Aria began as they all looked at her. "It's mine?"

"Looks more like a guy's shirt to me" Alison said with an interrogator's look. "Care to explain or should Ezra who is hiding in your bathroom explain?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Aria said as she planted herself squarely between the girls and the bathroom.

"Aria come on don't lie to us we are your best friends. We gave up secrets and lies a long time ago." Emily said giving her a sympathetic look.

"He is not in there" Aria said nervously knowing they would soon catch on.

"Ok so if he is not in there then we can discuss who Lilia's father is right?" Alison countered knowing that would make Aria talk.

"Ok he is in there" she conceded and opened the door to a shirtless Ezra.

"Hi Ezra" all the girls said in unison as he walked out of the bathroom.

"Hi girls" he replied nervously standing beside Aria and feeling a bit out of place without his shirt on.

"You might need this" Spencer said as she handed him his shirt. He nodded a thank you and threw it over his head.

"Look before you ask anything nothing happened. He came over here drunk at one in the morning and I let him stay. We slept in the same bed, but nothing else I swear on Lilia."

"I should probably go" Ezra stated as he looked at Aria ignoring the four other girls that were staring at him. "I would really like it if you came to my apartment tonight for dinner so we can talk. I think there are a few things we need to talk about."

"I don't have a sitter for Lilia" Aria said quickly hoping her friends would not volunteer to babysit, they did the opposite as usual.

"I can watch her" Emily said and all the girls looked at her. "Look Alison and I don't have kids so we get lonely we would love to have Lilia over for the night. She would really love the swimming pool and our dogs."

"It's settled then. She will see you at six" Alison said as she ushered Ezra out the door following him until he reached the front door. "Don't be stupid tonight Ezra."

"What does that mean?"

"You know exactly what I am talking about. Deep down you know exactly what it is. Don't be stupid. I know everything and if you are stupid tonight I will find out and you will not like it."

And with that she gently pushed him out the front door closing and locking it behind him. She sighed and went up to meet the rest of the girls to help Aria get ready for the night with a girl's day, a day Alison struggled with having fun at.