Thank you everyone for all of the kind reviews. You guys are so awesome. I hope you love this chapter and will continue to read this story.

Disclaimer- I do not own Pretty Little Liars.

Here is chapter seven.

Ezra ended the call and flung the phone onto the leather sofa in one motion. Then he took a seat on the couch himself. So many thoughts were currently running through his mind. Why had Gretchen erased the message? Why was she so hateful? How had his life turned out like this? But the thought that continued to overpower all other thoughts: He wanted …no needed Jake in his life and he wanted to be the father that Jake wanted him to be. And he wanted Aria too. But they couldn't just pick up where they left off. Could they?

Two full days had passed since Ezra had been formally introduced to Jake and was able to actually interact with his son. Two days had passed since the confrontation via telephone between Ezra and Gretchen. Two days had passed since the thought of all thoughts had entered Ezra Fitz' mind: Could he and Aria possibly be something more than friends? Sure his feelings were still just as strong as they were the moment he confessed his love for her after the Rosewood Day dance-a-thon, but did she feel the same way. He had no clue.

Since meeting Jake, Ezra had been by Aria's place each night just to say hi or hang out with Jake for a reasonable amount of time. He and Aria made small talk and played together with Jake but nothing ever seemed to go any farther than that. But it had only been two days after all. What did he expect?

It was now a Thursday and the school day was drawing to a close. It was the last period of the day and Ezra was winding down his lecture over "The Great Gatsby", a novel he assigned his students to read each year. Every few minutes as he waited for the input of his students about the piece of literature he would sneak a glance through the door window into Aria's classroom. This didn't go unnoticed by his students.

"What are you looking at Mr. Fitz?" A guy in the third row called out with a laugh.

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all." Ezra said returning his gaze to his students.

And just like that the familiar sound of the school bell echoed through the classroom signaling the end of the day. As usual the students tried to beat each other to the door in an attempt to be the first ones out. Some weren't so successful.

Ezra watched from his desk as the students piled out. Seconds later he was surprised to see Aria walk through the door.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself." He replied with a smile that may have been a little to big for the situation.

"Do you mind…" she whispered "Picking up Jake today? It would be a big help if you could do it. I have a parent that wants to chat about a grade her son got on the first test."

"On the third day of school?"

Aria nodded and sighed. "Yeah tell me about it. But you don't mind do you?"

"Oh of course not. I'd actually love too."

Aria smiled at his enthusiastic response. "Thanks a bunch." And with that Aria turned and made her way out of the classroom and back into her own.

Ezra grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder and began making his way to the door when a voice forced him to turn around. "Mr. Fitz do you mind helping me with this assignment for Gatsby?" A tall skinny girl with brown rimmed glasses spoke as she stood holding a white sheet of paper at Ezra's desk.

"Yeah of course Molly. But do you mind if we meet in say…fifteen minutes? I've got to go…um I've got to somewhere really quick. I'll be right back."

"Sure."

With that Ezra left the room leaving Molly waiting. At the moment he had something more important to do. It was the first day that he would be picking up Jake from daycare and he couldn't wait to surprise the little guy.

Ezra made his way through the entrance of the high school and quickly walked the short route over the smaller elementary school where Jake's daycare class was located. He all but ran through the black doors and quickly spotted the room labeled 110: Ms. Suzy's class. He stopped in front of the open classroom door and waited for Ms. Suzy who was yet again busy visiting with another parent. Suzy finished up her conversation and caught a glimpse of Ezra out of the corner of her eye and quickly walked over to him.

"How can I help you sir?"

Ezra smiled and stuck his hand out and Ms. Suzy was quick to shake. "Ezra Fitz" he introduced himself. "I'm actually here to pick up my son."

"Oh the cutie in the green…" Mrs. Suzy smiled and pointed her finger in Jake's direction. "So, you're the infamous "daddy" Jake has been chatting about nonstop since what was it Tuesday."

"Yes, that would be me."

"Jake's been bragging about you all week."

"That's great. So can I go get him now? I actually wanted to surprise him." Ezra said with a laugh.

"Oh of course. Of course. Go right ahead. He'll be thrilled."

Ms. Suzy stepped aside and Ezra entered the classroom quickly spotting Jake playing alone at a table in the corner. His back was turned in the opposite direction; Ezra slowed down as he came close to Jake and softly tapped his fingers on both sides of Jake's shoulders. "Boo." He yelled.

Jake responded with a scream that quickly turned into a fit of laughter when he realized who it was. "Hey daddy." He all but yelled

"Hey buddy. You ready to go?"

"You're picking me up?"

"Yep." Ezra nodded with a smile.

"Where we going?' Jake asked enthusiastically when Ezra pulled him up off the ground and up into his arms. The two made their way out after saying their goodbyes to Ms. Suzy.

"Back to school."

"I just had school." Jake replied in confusion.

"I know buddy but I still have some work to do."

"What about my mommy?"

Ezra laughed at the boy's curiosity as they finally entered the doors of the much larger high school. "She's here too Jake."

"Kay." Jake laughed.

Ezra carried Jake down the familiar hall and quickly arrived at the door to his classroom. He entered the classroom to find Molly seated anxiously in a front row chair.

"Hey Mr. Fitz."

"Hey Molly. Sorry about that I had to go pick up my son from daycare. You don't mind if he joins us do you?"

Molly shook her head. "No. I didn't know you had a son."

"Yep. Jake here."

"Cool."

Ezra smiled and sat Jake in the chair behind his desk and pulled several cars out of his small backpack to occupy his attention. Then he moved over to where Molly was seated and began questioning her about the problems she was having with the assignment.

Twenty minutes later Molly's problem was solved and she gathered her things to leave. 'Thanks Mr. Fitz." She spoke as she made her way to the door.

"No problem. Glad I could help."

As Molly was leaving Aria walked in. "Hey mommy." Jake yelled before jumping out of the large desk chair and running into Aria's arms.

"Hey bud. How was your day?"

"Good. Ms. Suzy let me color and I got to play with building blocks. But then she made us take a nap." He sounded disappointed. "But then I had a cookie after I ate my lunch." Jake laughed.

"A cookie huh? Good thing you had that nap."

"No! Naps are bad." Jake yelled in disgust.

"Hey Aria." Ezra spoke. He was picking up all of the books the kids had left out earlier in the day.

"Hey. So I was wondering." Aria spoke. "Do you want to get a cup of coffee or something?"

Ezra's eyes lit up. Stop it. You don't want to look so obvious do you? He thought.

"Actually-" He began to speak but before he could get another word in Aria spoke up.

"I understand. Maybe it's a bad idea."

'No, no not at all. I was going to say I'd love that." Ezra was quick to chime in.

"Oh." Aria breathed a sigh of relief. "Good."

Forty minutes later Aria, Jake, and Ezra sat at a corner booth at Rosewood's local Starbuck's franchise. "Coffee's gross." Jake spoke aloud as he watched Aria take a drink out of her plastic cup.

"For you maybe." She replied. "That's why you're drinking orange juice."

"So Aria, how's your first week of teaching treated you?" Ezra interrupted with a laugh.

"Oh great. Well maybe not the part where I have to deal with an upset parent but for the most part it's treating me well."

"Well let's hope you don't get yourself into a situation like my first year of teaching. I suppose you recall." Ezra replied taking a sip of his drink.

"What's that supposed to mean? You regret us?"

"No that's not what I mean at all. Aria I don't want some teenage boy coming after you. That's all I'm saying." Ezra laughed.

"Oh I see."

Ezra glanced over at Jake who was busy amusing himself with his orange juice cup and then looked back at Aria. "Actually I don't know if you do. Aria can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Where do we stand?" He paused taking another sip and looking her straight in the eyes. "We said we would discuss some things so here we are."

"Well." She paused in an attempt to come up with a descent answer. "You're Jake's father."

"I am." He nodded.

"Look Ezra. Maybe this wasn't the best idea. I think I need to go." Aria stood up and gathered Jake in her arms and began to make her way to the exit. But Ezra was quick on her heals. She exited the small shop and found her vehicle easily.

"Aria stop running. I just asked a question."

Aria opened her car door and lifted Jake into his car seat. It was then that she realized that Ezra was standing right next to her.

"I know Ezra but it's a question I don't know how to answer."

"I can make it easy for you." Ezra whispered into her right ear.

"Really h—how's that?" Aria stuttered as she was growing nervous.

"We could pick up where we left off. You know before you left four years ago."

"It's not that easy Ezra. Nothing is ever that easy." She replied

Ezra came closer to her face and lowered his face to her lips. "It could be." He spoke before attempting to close the space between her and him. His lips had nearly met hers when an all too familiar noise echoed from Aria's large purse. And just like that the moment was over.

Aria dug the ringing cell phone out of her purse and brought it to her ear. "Hello."

Aria listened intently as the person on the other line spoke. Two minutes hadn't passed before the phone call had ended and Aria dropped the phone into her soft hand.

"Who was that?" Ezra asked. Then he noticed a lone tear falling from her eye. He reached his hand up to her face and softly wiped it away. "What is it Aria? What's wrong?"

Aria took a deep breath before replying.

"That was my mom. My dad's been in an accident. "

There is chapter seven. There are parts of this chapter that I'm not sure how I feel about, but I must say that I am satisfied with how it turned out. If you would please leave a review. It would make my day. Thank you to everyone who is still reading this story, and if you have any ideas don't be afraid to throw them out there. I'd love to hear them.