Yay! Writer's block is gone!

I'd first like to thank notreallime, 3murphyboys, and HarryLovesGinny09 for their help with giving me ideas! And I'd also like to thank SolitudeMyLove for their song suggestions which helped me get thoughts for Aria and Ezra moments ( for throughout the rest of the story)! And finally, as I always do, thank you to all who have reviewed! It means soooo much! to those out there who haven't reviewed, but are reading, DON'T BE SHY!

I don't own anyone in this chapter besides Clara and Audrey.

Read, Enjoy, and Review :D

Chapter 19:
Ezra POV:

Work was finally over. Not that I mind teaching, but even this Tuesday felt like a Monday; extremely long. Maybe it was because I had to give another lecture until 4:30. Aria took home Clara from school, so I took the opportunity to go into a book shop and spend a few hours browsing for new books.

I spent about two hours, and after raking through bookshelf from bookshelf, I had accumulated two books for myself, and one for Aria called "Something Borrowed" which I knew she was dying to read from previous conversation. I was about to walk out of the store when I saw her.

"Ezra?"

I looked up to meet the icy gray eyes that belong to Audrey.

"Ummm...Audrey. Hi," I replied frightened. So many thoughts rushed through my head. Like what if she wanted Clara? That not only would ruin my new found family, but would potentially ruin Aria and mine relationship.

"I see you still have your way with words," she asked, placing a hand on my arm.

"Yeah, I guess," I said shaking it off my arm.

"Oh come on, Ezra. Stop acting so cold. It's childish," said Audrey. How I ever found this woman attractive was beyond belief to myself. Taking a good look at her, she couldn't' hold a candle to Aria.

"Do you want to know whats childish? Leaving your daughter," I said, seething and on the verge of yelling.

"Ezra, don't do this in public," said Audrey, dismissively waving her hand. "So, how is she?"

"She has a name. It''s Clara. And she's fantastic. Why do you want to know?"

"She is my daughter. I have a right to know," countered Audrey.

"Actually. I don't think you qualify as mother material. Clara already has a mother. One that loves and cares for her," I said.

"So you're married," asked Audrey in disbelief.

"No, but I have a long term girlfriend who loves Clara irrevocably," I said, smiling on the inside at the thought of Aria and my daughter, who were waiting for me at the townhouse.

"I've got to go Audrey, nice to run in to you," I said quickly, itching to get out the area as soon as possible. She grabbed by arm roughly, stopping me from moving.

"I will see her. I'm not going to take her away. You love her so much and I still am not ready for a child, and neither is Roberto, but I will see her," she whispered to me, and threw me aside, going into the shop. I was left in a state of fear, and confusion. Roberto must have been the guy she left me for. All I wanted to do right now was hurry home and protect my baby girl. I didn't know when Audrey would show up. It could be months or weeks, but I needed to keep Clara safe. I rushed home, completely forgetting about the DVD I was supposed to pick up for Aria and myself to watch after Clara went to sleep.

Aria POV:

"Clara, honey. Please get into the bath. Don't you want to be all clean and ready for when Daddy comes home," I asked Clara, who was sitting on the floor of her room with her arms across her chest.

"No," she said turning away from me with a pout. Clara had a bad day at school today, which is what put her in a horrible mood. According to the gym teacher, she tripped and fell today while trying to kick the ball away from another student and had a bruise on her elbow. But that was only the beginning. She had also gotten into a small debate with another girl in the class, Vanessa, on which Disney Princess was better, and lost, and at the end of the day, spilt glitter all over a artistic masterpiece she was making for Ezra and I to hang on the fridge.

"Clara, please. Do it for Mommy," I begged trying to pick her up. She immediately shifted all her weight so that it was almost impossible to pick her up.

"No, Mommy. I told you I don't want to. I don't want to take a bath."

"You have to Clara," I said.

"No! I don't," she said raising her voice.

"Clara, I'm getting tired of this. I've spent almost 20 minutes trying to get you in the bath. I don't think you'd want me to get upset and tell Daddy."

"No," she said in a small voice.

"Then on the count of three, you will get up and go into the bathroom. One...two...three!"

Instead of getting up, on three, Clara burst into tears and held out her hands for me.

"Sweetheart," I said picking her up and sitting on the little chair in her room. I ran my hands through her hair, trying to calm her, but she only buried her face in my neck and cried more.

"Shh...It'll be alright. Are you upset about today," I asked, and I felt her nod her head against my neck as a response. "Oh, Pumpkin. I'm sorry. I understand," I said hugging her close to me. We sat there for a couple minutes, as I let her calm down. Once she was finished, she raised her blue eyes, which were rimmed in red from crying, to mine.

"How about we go take that bath? I promise it will be short," I said.

"Oo-ok," said Clara sniffling and she held onto my shirt while we walked into the bathroom. I gave myself a mental high five at managing my way through my first hissy fit.

I had given Clara her bath (the warm water seemed to soothe her after all the crying) and got her dressed in her favorite Ariel nightgown by the time Ezra came home. Clara and I had been waiting in the living room. We were watching one of the TV shows on Disney Channel that she always watched when Ezra quietly opened the front door.

"Hello?"

"In the living room," I called.

He came in and smiled wearily.

"How are my girls," he asked, picking up Clara and giving me a kiss.

"Good. We had a bit of a t-a-n-t-r-u-m getting into the bath, but it's all resolved," I said turning off the television and getting off the couch.

"Hi Daddy," said Clara in a small voice and snuggling into Ezra.

"Hi Baby. How was your day?"

I looked at Clara and saw fresh tears welling up into her eyes. I quickly shot Ezra a glance and shook my head fiercely to signal him not to go into it. He understood and gave Clara a kiss on the cheek.

"Nevermind" he said. "Are you tired?" Clara nodded her head to respond.

"Then let's get you into bed. You want me to tuck you in?" She nodded her head again wearily and I saw her eyes start to flutter.

"Goodnight Pumpkin," I said giving her a kiss. "I love you."

"Love you too, Mommy," she said as her eyes started to close.

I was in the kitchen when Ezra came downstairs 10 minutes later.

"Did she?"

"Went to sleep the minute I place her in bed," he said, smiling.

"That's good," I said coming around the counter to give him a hug. He lifted my lips to meet his, pulling me into a kiss. I wound my fingers into his hair, as he groaned and pulled me closer. This kiss moved from tender, into a fevered one, and I pulled away. It wasn't like his usual kisses, this one was more like he was worried everything will change. I looked at him in confusion, and he only smiled at me tiredly.

"Are you ok," I asked, following his lead back into the living room. He sat down silently, pulling me with him. I curled up into his side, and he breathed wearily into my hair after kissing my forehead.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just been a long day," he sighed.

"Oh, ok," I said. But I knew there was something more behind his demeanor than just a long day. Something had happened. I knew Ezra. We sat in the comfortable silence for 15 minutes. I laid my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat, while he stayed in the same position, kissing my hair every so often.

"Ezra, are you sure there's nothing wrong," I asked.

"It's nothing Aria," he said pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's just, I ran into someone I wish I hadn't and the book store."

My mind instantly jumped to who it could've been. Jackie? Noel? Could it even had been Audrey?

"Who was it?"

"You have to promise not to freak out," he said, warning me with his eyes. "It was Audrey."

"What...what happened," I asked worriedly. This was not good. Not at all.
"She asked how Clara was, and told me she wants to see Clara. She didn't say when, so all we can do is wait," said Ezra, who knew I was going to jump to conclusions on what we should do. My eyes welled up with tears, which soon spilled over. Ezra leaned down to kiss them away.

"What...if this...ruins...us? Or our little family," I said between tears.

"Aria, love, don't worry. We don't know anything yet. I promise you, when the time comes, we'll figure it all out," he said turning towards me and taking my hands in his. "I promise," he said once again. I gave him a deep and tender kiss, and laid my head back against his chest, as he stroked my hair. We sat like that for a few moments, until Ezra spoke up again.

"I was doing some thinking as I was walking home tonight, and I was wondering, how about moving in with me and Clara," he asked nervously.

"Oh, Ezra," I said leaning in to kiss him once again passionately.

"I take that as a yes," he said brightly. I quickly nodded my head and brought his lips back down to meet mine.

I got back to my apartment that night, feeling as if I was on Cloud Nine. Despite the impending threat of Audrey, I was relishing in the fact that I would soon be living with Ezra and Clara.

I fell onto my bed, thinking to myself 'What did I do to make me deserve him?' I'd been through a lot of stupid things, and did a lot of stupid things, like for example keep my father's affair a secret for a year, that didn't exactly put me on the good list for fate. Yet, somehow, I'd been given all I've ever wanted. I had great friends, my family, after all the trauma of junior year, had managed to stay intact, and most importantly, I had Ezra and Clara.

My phone's ringing noise blared through my thoughts and I immediately picked it up.

"Hi Aria, sweetheart."

I was startled by the voice on the other, as I hadn't been expecting a woman's voice,

"Hi Mom," I said into the reciever.

Cliffhanger! But it's about time Ella, Byron, and Mike came into the story, don't you think? lol

Thank you to all my amazing reviewers! I love seeing what you have to say! Please keep it up! And to those out there who are reading, but have yet to say anything, GO AHEAD! don't be shy :D I'd love to hear what you have to say :)

.soprano.

p.s. i was listening to music today and the song twisted by carrie underwood came on. any ezria fan should really give it a listen. i feel like it kinda describes their relationship! Look it up!