Facing the Past

Thank you so much for all of the reviews and for the words of encouragement. I really appreciate all of the nice things you all had to say about this story and my writing. Thanks again.

Disclaimer- I do not own Pretty Little Liars.

Here is chapter two.

Aria looked down at her son who was busy fiddling with the zipper of his coat, "Well Jake, it looks like we're moving to Rosewood."

Aria had spoken those words nearly a week and a half ago and that simple statement that held so much meaning ended up consuming her mind for the rest of that Tuesday afternoon back in New York. Three days after accepting the job at Rosewood Day, an incident she vaguely remembered, Aria loaded her four door Honda Accord with as many of her belongings as would fit in the fairly small car's space, providing plenty of room for Jake and his car seat of course.

She was all set and ready to go; tired from the many hours of throwing her belongings into luggage bags preparing for the quick move, when she noticed Spencer was stuffing several large bags in her own car. Aria shot Spencer a confused look which earned a chuckle from Spencer who was struggling with the last of her things. "What Aria?" she let out a soft laugh seeing the look on her friend's face, "You thought I wasn't coming with you. Best friends stick together. Besides there's no way I'm leaving Jake, I am his "godmother" after all. His name isn't Jacob Spencer Fitz for nothing."

Aria cringed at the mention of her son's last name. It was her own fault; she could have just put her last name on the birth certificate. Hell she could have left the spot labeled father blank, but deep down she couldn't do that to Ezra and besides Jake had a father, she knew who he was. And that's why the day Jake was born she didn't hesitate to fill in the spot with Ezra's name, no matter if he was a part of Jake's life or not, he was still legally Jake's father.

"Oh sorry, Aria. I didn't mean to bring Mr. Fitz uh I mean Ezra up."

Aria simply shrugged, quickly situated Jake comfortably in his seat, buckled him in, and took off. She wasn't sure what life would throw at her in the next few weeks, but now she felt just a little bit better knowing she still had Spencer on her side.

That was a week and a half ago.

Now Aria, Spencer, and Jake were living in yet another small apartment. Only this one was right in the heart of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Well it wasn't exactly the smallest thing they had ever seen, nor the largest. It had three bedrooms, tiny ones of course, but there were three of them which was a lot better than the two bedroom place back at NYU.

In Aria's mind the best thing about the apartment, besides the fact that it was a steal price wise, was that it was not in the same complex as one Ezra Fitz. Yes, that was definitely a good thing.

It was a Thursday afternoon, four days until the new school year started in Rosewood. Today was the first day Aria would be making an appearance at the school she would be working in just a few short days, due to the organized teacher's meeting that was scheduled to start in just under an hour.

Spencer had agreed to watch Jake during the meeting; she had made plans to take the toddler to the large playground that sat behind the Rosewood Day Elementary School. Aria was hesitant at first thinking someone may see them and ask all sorts of questions but after a second or two of thought she realized that she didn't need to be so nervous, scared even.

"Spence you ready?" Aria asked as she entered the apartment living room carrying a small backpack that contained some of Jake's favorite toys. There had to be fifteen tiny NASCARs stuffed in the bag.

"Yeah I'm right here, Aria." Spencer yelled hobbling into the room attempting to force her tennis show onto her foot.

"Let's go mommy." I'm ready." Jake yelled running into the living room with his small white NIKE's untied. Aria let out a soft chuckle before bending down and properly fixing her son's shoes.

"Alright, let's go."

Thirteen minutes before the meeting was set to start at approximately 1:47, Aria pulled her Honda into a parking spot at the front of the school. She quickly exited the car, got Jake out of his seat, and kissed the top of his head gently before watching Spencer and Jake sneak over to the Rosewood Elementary School playground, not far from the grounds of the high school.

Aria took a second to take a look into the side mirror of her car, checking her appearance before taking a deep breath and slowly walking straight ahead en route for the entrance of Rosewood Day High School.

Aria hadn't changed much in the past four years. She still had the dark brownish black hair styled the exact same way as usual, she hadn't grown much length wise, and she had lost the majority of her pregnancy weight so she still looked as skinny as she did the day she graduated high school. She had a reason to be nervous about the meeting she was about to enter into.

Not even a minute later Aria stopped in front of the large black door, above it was a sign reading Rosewood Day High School: Home of the Rosewood Sharks. She slowly entered into the building and took a moment to soak in the familiar smells and scene of the halls of her former high school, what was now her workplace.

She quickly found the large room labeled 106 and immediately noticed that the room was jam packed with people. She found a lone seat in the back corner of the room and quickly walked over to it, taking a seat and placing her oversized purse in her lap. At the moment she was thanking her lucky stars that not a single person had noticed her yet.

Her luck was about to run out.

She sat completely still in her seat for what seemed like hours before a tall dark haired man came into the room, carrying a stack of papers in one hand, and in the midst of taking a sip of his coffee. He lowered the mug from his lips and scanned the large room, a smile plastered on his face and his pearly whites shining.

It was at that moment that Aria recognized the familiar face, and too her dismay it was at that exact moment that his eyes locked with hers, the smile quickly disappearing from his face.

It was Ezra.

And just like the first time he saw her sitting in the fourth row of his junior English class, he muttered two familiar words and everyone turned their attention to where his eyes were staring. "Holy crap."

The meeting went by too slowly for Aria's liking. After Ezra got over the initial shock of coming face to face with his former girlfriend, he focused on the task at hand, informing the teachers of the new curriculum and the basics for the upcoming school year, The quick and sneaky glances in her direction did not go unnoticed by Aria and every time he would look her way she would intentionally shift her glance to the large window that was located right beside her chair.

Fifty six minutes later, not like anyone was counting, the meeting was finally adjourned and the faculty of Rosewood Day High School lined out of the classroom rather quickly. Aria on the other hand was just a tad to slow because before she knew it she heard Ezra's familiar voice calling out her name.

"Aria...Aria wait!" he pleaded as he chased her out of the classroom.

"What is it, Ezra? I have places to go and people to see?"

Ezra stopped his rush when he noticed Aria turn around and face him. He took a deep breath. "Where have you been? The last time I see you…well you know, and then you all of a sudden skip town and I never hear from you again. Ever." Ezra spoke as a confused look appeared on his face.

"Look Ezra, I've got to go, but you and I both know that is not what happened."

Aria began to walk quickly back to the entrance of the school, and didn't realize that Ezra was matching her step for step behind her. "What are you talking about? I haven't heard from you in four years, Aria. And, where are you running off too so fast."

Aria exited the school building and let out a loud sigh when the large Rosewood Elementary School playground came into view. Aria then realized that Spencer and Jake were now joined by two familiar faces: Hanna and Emily.What was she going to do now? Ezra would know something was up. And so would Hanna and Em.

"Aria please don't walk away from me. Please. We need to talk." Ezra pleaded as he continued to follow her, finally catching up to her as she neared the playground.

"Ezra, like I said" Aria said walking away from him and in the direction of Jake who was now sliding down the small kids slide on the left side of the playground where Spencer was standing with Hanna and Emily who carried the same shocked look on both of their faces.. "I've got places to go and people to see."

"Yeah. I get that but who?" Ezra spoke. He looked up to where Aria was now standing and noticed three of his former students standing alongside Aria. He finally gathered the courage to walk over to her. But before he got the chance he heard a shocking noise, the laughter of a small child. He looked to the slide where Jake was in motion sliding down and his face grew pale at the words the little boy spoke next.

"Look mommy. I'm going fast."

Ezra looked in Aria's direction before turning back to the small toddler. Back to Aria and back to the boy again. The smile Aria had on her face quickly vanished when she noticed the confused expression on Ezra's. And when Jake ran into Aria's open arms moments later, Ezra's worst fear was realized and his face became white as a sheet.

"A..Aria,,,Y you..have a son?"

Boy did she have some explaining to do.

And there is chapter two. That may have moved a little too fast, but I've never been one to drag out the plot of a story. I have yet to master the art of prolonging the inevitable. I really hope you enjoy reading it. Please leave a review, and once again thank you so much for the awesome reviews you left for last chapter. I am so overwhelmed. Thank you, thank you, thank you!