All characters, but Clara, belong to Sara Shepard and ABC Family
Chapter 3- Ezra
Crap! I looked down at my watch. I was running 20 minutes late to pick up Clara. Damn faculty meetings.
All but leaping out of the taxi, I sprinted up the gate and about 5 feet away from me was a sight I'd never thought I'd see.
There was Aria standing behind it, holding my Clara who was studying Aria's face. Aria was looking down at Clara with a stunned look on her. Clara had obviously said something Aria hadn't expected to come out of her mouth, as Clara is extremely advanced for her age.
I stood there, looking disheveled, my tie halfway undone and hair messing about my forehead. Once I found my voice, I called out, "Clara?"
My voice wavered a bit on the next name.
"A-Aria?"
She looked up at me with her hazel eyes and I felt my heart inflate inside my chest. She looked the same, yet more mature.
Seeing her holding Clara only made my heart thump even louder than it already was. Not only did seeing them so close bring out the resemblance between the two, but this was how I had always pictured my family.
"Ezra?"
"Daddy!"
Both voices clashing together pulled me out of my reverie. Clara was bounding toward the gate, and trying to push it open. Aria laughed at her small struggle and pushed open the gate. Once Clara was free, she leaped into my arms.
"Daddy! You're late! I thought you forgot about me," she said crossly, jutting out her bottom lip, making a pout.
"I could never forget you sweetheart. I just had a faculty meeting that ran a little late. I'm so sorry," I said as held her small body close and gave her a kiss on her nose.
Aria's words pulled me away from the moment I was having with Clara.
"Ezra?"
Her voice was exactly the same. It the voice I heard in those recurring dreams. Even at 24, Aria was still 5 feet exactly and still as beautiful as she was when I left Rosewood.
Why I made the knee-jerk decision to leave was unfathomable to myself now.
"Where have you...Why have you...Why did...What I'm trying to say is...it's nice and a shock to see you."
"Aria," I said breathlessly, "It's nice, no more than nice. It's fantastic to see you."
I immediately walked towards are, giving into my urge to pull in into a warm embrace, until Clara, whom I completely forgot I was holding spoke up.
"Daddy, how do you know Miss Aria?"
"I uh..She was.."
"I'm an old friend of your dad's, from when he worked in Rosewood," interrupted Aria.
'You are so much more than a friend to me and you know that' I thought. Clara then peered at me, then at Aria closely.
"Is Miss Aria my mommy?"
So that must be the reason why Aria looked so astonished when I arrived. As smart as Clara is, she sometimes tends to forget about using a sentence filter.
I thought of the possible answers in my head. There were only two ways to answer her question. Either have Aria play along as her mother or tell the truth. I looked at Aria pleadingly, almost asking 'What should we do' until I mindlessly blurted out:
"I'm sorry Clara, but Miss Aria-.
"Actually cutie, I think I am your mother," said Aria. I looked at her astonished and she winked at me as if to reassure that everything would be okay.
"Really? You're my mommy?"
"Yes, sweethart," I found myself saying. "She is."
Clara wriggled out of my arms and ran straight into Aria's. Aria crouched down to catch Clara and pulled her into a hug and pressed her lips to Clara's forehead. Clara pulled back and stuck out her hand.
"I think this should be done properly...I mean we are meeting for the first time officially as mommy and daughter. I'm Clara Grace Fitz."
"Hi sweetie. My name is Aria Christine Montgomery. And I'm you're mommy."
They both peered at each other for a couple minutes until Clara spoke up.
"Mommy? Would you like to go out on a date with daddy and I?"
Aria giggled at the use of the word 'date' in Clara's sentence. "I think you mean go out for dinner. And I'm sorry Clara, but I have to work on tomorrow's lesson plan when I get home. Maybe we can go out another time."
"Aria, please," I looked at her pleadingly. "Come out to dinner with Clara and myself tonight. It would give us a chance to catch up, and for you to get to know Clara better. Please, I've..well," I moved closer and lowered my voice so Clara couldn't hear. "I've missed you. So much."
Aria lowered her voice as well. "You know I would love to, but I just can't right now. This is all just very sudden. I need a day to figure out what I'm going to do."
I looked at her, with so much love radiating in my eyes that it would be impossible to say no.
"Aria, please. If not for me, come for Clara. She's adores you already."
Aria gazed back at me, with the sheer glistening of impending tears in her eyes. "Ok. I'll go. Where do you want to meet?"
"Carmine's in Times Square. 6:30."
"Alright." She looked from me to Clara. "I'll see you at 6:30 then. Bye," she said as she gave me a lingering tap on the shoulder. Aria then crouched down once again to Clara's height to give her a kiss goodbye. She then left and made her way down the street.
"Well Clara, looks like we've got dinner plans with your Mommy tonight," I said looking down at my daughter.
"Really," she asked excitedly, her eyes are wide as saucers.
"Really. Now let's get home so we can get all spiffed up for later. Shall we?" I held out my hand for Clara to take.
"We shall," she replied and took my hand.
So, I rewrote the chapter. After trying it out with going down the traditional path (no offense at all to those who suggested it, I LOVED some of your ideas which I will probably tap into regardless because they were brilliant!), but I felt I was losing interest in the plot without a huge element to work the story around.
I hope you all enjoy the rewrite! I can't wait to update it!
Ahh! I feel more satisfied now, I was tossing and turning in bed because I wasn't happy with how the chapter came out previously.
Thanks to everyone for all you're feedback! REVIEW...s'il vous plait!