Chapter 8

"Why are we getting dressed up?" Lilia asked as her mom French braided her hair.

"Because someone very special is coming over tonight that really wants to see you." Aria replied as she finished it and placed a bow at the end of the braid. She twirled Lilia around to face her and bent down until they were at eye level. "You are going to meet your dad tonight ok?"

"Really?" Lilia asked excitement instantly jumping onto her face.

"Yes, he is very excited to see you, but I have got to finish dinner before he gets here so why don't you play with your dolls up here and try to not get dirty ok?"

Lilia nodded and with excitement still etched onto her face she ran over to her dollhouse. Aria smiled and walked downstairs to her kitchen. She was excited that Lilia wanted to see her father. Growing up Lilia always asked about her dad and Aria would talk about him for hours almost every day about him, the same stories over and over again, but Lilia could not get enough of the stories she said they made her feel like he was there with them. Though she asked to see pictures of him Aria would never allow her to see any secretly keeping all her Ezra related items in a box in her closet far away from her daughter. When Lilia would ask why her dad was never around for her Aria would say he just did not know her and they were waiting for a special time in her life when she was ready so the two could meet and somehow Lilia believed her.

Opening the lid to the stock pot Aria glanced inside, stirring the soup. It had been a long time since she had cooked for Ezra and she was nervous that he would not like what she was making. She was still a vegan and he knew that and tonight's dinner would be no different than any other dinner she had ever cooked him, it would be vegan true to her roots Aria thought in her head as she opened the door to her oven peeking in on her cookies that has just finished baking. Pulling it out she quickly put them on a plate and stuck them in a cupboard out of sight for later. A few minutes later the doorbell rang and before Aria could even get to it Lilia was already there pulling it open.

"Hello" He said nervously as Aria walked up behind Lilia.

"Is this him?" Lilia asked looking up at her mom. Aria nodded and without another word Lilia flung her arms around Ezra burying her head into his stomach. His arms instinctively wrapped around her as he laid his head on top of hers closing his eyes with a smile on his face. "Hi dad." She simply said and Aria's smile sprung onto her face and a single happy tear rolled from her eye.

"What's for dinner?" He asked Lilia as they made their way into the dining room.

"Mom made soup I think" Lilia guessed as she sat down at the table beside Ezra.

"It is a French Vegan soup" Aria said with a smirk and Ezra just about laughed as he remembered their conversation eight years ago.

"Well then I must really love you" He said looking directly at Lilia. "So are you a vegan too Miss. Fitz?" He asked liking the sound of his last name for her.

"Yup" She answered a huge grin spreading from ear to ear as Aria quietly slipped out of the room to get everyone's bowls together. "Mommy let me decide if I wanted to be Vegan and I told her that I did. I already know that you are not and that's ok. Mommy loves you like that and so do I."

"Mommy loves me does she?" He asked not wanting to pry too much on Lilia, but still wanting to know how much Lilia knew.

"Oh yea she always said you are the love of her life."

"Interesting"

Ezra smiled at the thought of Aria talking highly of him to their daughter, she never once bad mouthed him and he admired that of her. A few minutes later Aria walked in with a try of food while Lilia was in the midst of talking about how much she loved school. Aria noticed how Ezra was smiling and nodding his head listening to everything Lilia said with earnest. She placed the bowls in front of them and sat down with her own at the end of the table trying to give the two as much privacy as she could afford them. They never noticed her for the most part the two were just in their own bubble and as the hours went on they went into the living room to watch a movie together with Aria going into the kitchen to clean up the dinner plates. A half hour later Ezra walked in carrying a sleeping Lilia in his arms.

"Where is her bedroom?" He whispered and Aria looked up and smiled at the scene in front of her.

"Here let me bring her up" Aria replied wiping her hands on a towel and putting her hands out to take Lilia.

"It's ok Aria I can help" He said with a look of longing on his face and Aria could tell he really wanted to put her to bed.

"This way" She said as she led him upstairs and into Lilia's bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed and as the two were about to depart the living room Lilia stirred.

"Please don't go dad. I want to see you in the morning."

"Lilia honey he has to."

"Please I don't want him to go and never come back" Lilia said sitting up in her bed a sad look on her face.

"Lilia I could never walk away now that I know you" Ezra replied as Aria and him sat on her bed. "You mean everything to me and I will never go away. I promise."

"Then stay tonight please" She begged doing her very best puppy dog eyes to both her parents.

"Only if your mother says I can."

"Please mom. Just for tonight I promise." She begged looking squarely at her mother and reminding Aria how a like she was to her father with those eyes.

"Fine, but just tonight Lilia. He can sleep in the guest room across the hall from my room."

"Thank you, thank you, and thank you!" Lilia exclaimed throwing her arms around her mom and squeezing tight. "You are the best mother anyone could ever ask for."

"When you are a teenager I will remind you of that. I have witnesses."

She pulled away and gave Lilia a kiss on the forehead. Ezra did the same and the two left the room in silence. Aria led them to the spare bedroom down the hall and opened the door. It was small, but it fit a small dresser and a full sized bed in there, perfect for overnight guests to live in. Opening the closet in the hallway she grabbed a blanket and handed it to him in silence. She had no idea what to say and at that point he didn't know either he just nodded a thanks and walked into the guest room closing the door behind him. Aria walked into her room across the hall and like magic her phone vibrated.

S.O.S.- Hanna

What's wrong?

He hasn't left yet

What?

Ezra. His car is still there. Is he staying?

Seriously Hanna? You scared me half to death

Sorry, but the girls and I want to know

How do you even know he is still here?

We've been sitting out in my car across the street all night. Your mom even brought cookies out to us.

I am going to bed. Goodnight.

And with that Aria put her phone on silent and climbed into her bed after putting on an old shirt and shorts. She tossed and turned for hours, but couldn't get to bed. Her mind was racing and she just could not fall asleep; she had been having a hard time sleeping ever since he had slept in that bed with her. Finally Aria couldn't take it anymore and got out of bed crossing the hall to the guest room. Opening it slightly and peeked her head around the door. Ezra was sound asleep, or so she thought, and she tip toed into the room.

"Ezra?" she whispered into the darkness of the room. He didn't answer so she inched closer and tapped his shoulder. "Ezra?" She repeated herself hoping he would answer her.

"Aria?" he asked sitting up in the bed and looking up at her.

"I can't sleep, can I come lay down with you until I can?" she asked hoping he would say yes.

"Of course"

He scooted over in the bed to make room for her and she climbed in pulling the blankets over her. Not knowing what else to do he took her in his arms and held her as she drifted off to sleep. For a while he just watched as she slept thinking too many things. Ezra was still beyond angry for what she had done with Lilia, but this was Aria and he never could stay angry with this girl for long she just had that kind of power of him and she didn't even realize it. Finally tiredness took over and he too fell asleep.

Preview:

"Aria I don't know how to apologize for what I did, but I am not the only one at fault here you lied to me too."

"I technically never lied to you, everyone else lied to you" She said not wanting him to calm her down. "Besides I went to San Francisco because I thought if I was there you would find us."

"San Francisco is a huge city" He said, but he knew Aria was a hopeless romantic who believed in those things.