Disclaimer: I don't own anyone in this chapter except for Vera, Gillian, and Clara.
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Chapter 21:
Aria POV:
I held Clara's hand and we approached Spencer's apartment door. I knocked on it softly and looked down at Clara.
"Don't worry, Mommy! I think Auntie Spencer will forgive you," she said reassuringly.
"Thanks pumpkin."
Spencer answered the door fairly quickly. Clara beamed a smile at her, while I look sheepishly up from my gaze at the carpeted hallway floor.
"Spence, I'm really sorry for blowing up at you like that. I've just bee-," I started to say when she cut me off.
"Aria, it's fine. Its in the past; just a moment of weakness," she said putting her hand on my shoulder. "Do you guys want to come in?"
"Sure," I said, taking Clara inside with me.
"Wow!" Spencer and I both looked at Clara to see a completely astounded look on her face. "You're place is niceee," she said causing Spencer and I to giggled.
"Do you guys want something to drink," said Spencer going over the fridge.
"No, we're good actually. I just wanted to come over and to well," I said producing a small gift wrapped box from my bad, "give you this."
"Aria, you really shouldn't have," said Spencer, giving me a hug.
"Yes, I needed to. You've done so much for more in the past couple of years and I wanted to thank you," I said smiling and hugged her back.
"Open it, Auntie Spencer," said Clara from her perch on the couch. "I picked it out," she said proudly. Spencer opened up the box and picked up the gorgeous pearl bracelet we had picked out at a small jewlery store earlier. Her eyes watered a little bit, and gathered Clara and myself in a bone crushing hug. "Thank you so much," she whispered.
"No problem. You're my best friend," I said.
"What about me," Clara asked, creating her pout.
"You," I said while picking her up, "are my daughter. We have a much different bond," I said kissing her on the cheek. "Listen, Spence. I've got to go. We'll talk later," I said hurriedly before Clara could spill on tonight's plans.
I was too late to getting to the door though, as Clara said, "We're having dinner at Grammy and Papa's tonight! Auntie Vera is coming too!" Spencer's eyes widened as I yelled "Goodbye," and slammed the door.
I wasn't even in my apartment for a minute before my phone 'dinged'.
Spencer: You're telling the girls and I everything at out Royal Wedding party on Friday ;)
Clara had been sitting on my bed for over two hours, while I got ready and attempted to find something to wear to dinner tonight. What exactly do you wear when you're meeting your boyfriend and daughter's family? Do you dress it up a bit to make a good impression, or do you dress normally, or do you dress uber-casual? My mind was jumbled by the time I came out to ask Clara what she thought of my outfit. I was wearing a blue silk dress and black heels.
"Clara, what do you think of this outfit?" She looked away from the TV and gave my outfit a once over.
"Too dressy. Daddy told me this morning to dress casual, but nice for dinner," she said turning her focus back to the TV. I went back into my closet and threw a few more outfits together. Every time, Clara had nixed them, saying it was either too dressy, or wasn't right for the occasion. I finally decided that the outfit I had just put on was the last try.
I came out in dark jeans, the same lace up boots from earlier, a lace tank top, and a drapy navy cardigan. I went over to my jewelry box and put on a double chained necklace that had a turquoise jewel, and a gold pendant.
"Well, this is the last one. What do you think?"
"It's perfect," said Clara's face, which lit up.
Ezra POV:
I rushed up to apartment, 3A, which belonged to Aria. I knocked on the door, and was greeted by Clara.
"Hi Daddy! How was you're meeting?"
"It was, well how meetings always are, boring," I said laughing, giving her a kiss on the forehead. Aria came from out of the closet, looking beautiful. She literally took my breath away every time I laid eyes on her. How could I ever had gotten so lucky to find her again, and make her mine was unfathomable to me. And for her to take me back after leaving was miracle all on its own as well.
"Hi," I said winding my arms around her waist, and pulled her close.
"Hey," she said, bringing her lips up to mine, and we almost met in a kiss until Clara piped up.
"Eww! Kid in the room!"
"Oh hush," said Aria, giggling, and planted a swift kiss on my lips.
"Don't worry, we can make up for it later," I whispered in her ear. She giggled and a beautiful slight shade of pink washed onto her cheeks.
"You ready to go," I asked.
"Yes," said both my girls in unison. I took Aria's hand and picked up Clara with my other, as we headed out towards my parents townhouse.
"Ezra! It's so nice to see you sweetheart," said my mother, Gillian when she opened the door. Her lithe arms wrapped them around my shoulders in a hug.
"Hi Mom," I said giving her a kiss on the cheek. Well, Gillian wasn't actually my mother. My parents got divorced when I was young, and my real mother never was around much. I only ever heard from her on birthday's and occasions like that. When my dad married Gillian, she raised me and Vera as her own.
"Grammy," said Clara said, flinging herself to hug Mom's legs.
"Hi my sweet girl," my Mom said, picking her up her planting a kiss on her nose. She then spied Aria, who was partially hidden behind my body.
"You must be Aria," she said reaching her hand out. Aria tentatively reached for it, and Mom pulled into a warm hug. I could vaguely hear her whisper in Aria's ear "Thank you so much for all this." Aria beamed, and we all went inside.
I saw my father sitting in the den, reading the Times.
"Hi Dad," I said.
"Is that my son Ezra I hear," he bellowed and got up from his arm chair. He gave me a fatherly slap on the back as we walked back into the foyer, where Mom was talking with Clara and Aria.
"How are you doing," he asked.
"Good. I've had a lot of lecture's to teach though, which keeps me at work a little later. Thank god Aria's there to take Clara home for me."
My parents and Vera knew all about Aria and my situation. They at first disagreed, but once I told them how Aria was around Clara, and how much each of them liked each other, they grew warm to the idea. Now, they were thankful to Aria for doing all this. My dad saw Aria, who picked up Clara to give her a kiss on the cheek.
"Is that her?"
"Yes," I said dreamily, watching my girlfriend interact with our daughter. My father looked at me and laughed.
"You've got it bad."
"I'm not denying it. I love her."
My dad gave another chuckle and went over to introduce himself to her.
"Hello Aria. I'm Wayne," said Dad who hugged Aria.
"Hi Mr. Fitz," said Aria who hugged him right back.
"Please, call me Wayne. Or even Dad. Mr. Fitz makes me feel old," he joked.
"Hi Papa," exclaimed Clara, who was now standing next to Mom.
"Hey sweet pea," he said picking her up, and giving her a kiss. Mom looked at all of us and said;
"I have a few finger foods laid out in the family room. Why don't we go in there?"
I loved watching Aria fit right into the Fitz family. My dad and I were watching a baseball game on the TV (I actually wasn't too sure of what was happening during the game. All I knew was that my Dad's favorite team, the Cardinals, were winning). Aria was sitting on the floor with Mom and Clara, and they were playing "Go Fish".
"Gillian? Do you have an 8 of hearts," I heard Aria ask.
"Nope, go fish."
"Grammy, do you have a 1 of diamonds," asked Clara.
"No, sorry sweetie. Go fish," said Mom.
Clara looked towards Aria and asked, "Mommy, do you have one?"
"Clara, pumpkin, that's not how you play. You have to take a new card and then let Grammy take her turn," said Clara. I got up from my spot on the couch and sat down besides Aria, pulling her into my lap.
"It's time to let the master of 'Go Fish' to join the game," I said.
We played for about 15 minutes, until Vera made her grand entrance.
"Hello familgia," shouted my sister.
"Auntie Vera," said Clara springing up and running to Vera.
"Hiya kiddo," said Vera picking up my daughter. She looked to Aria sitting in my lap. "You must be Aria," she said coming over. "I'm Vera. It's finally nice to meet the infamous Aria Montgomery that Clara has told me so much about and that Ezra has gushed about so many times," she said winking at me. I blushed, and Aria stuck out her hand to Vera. "It's nice to meet you too, Vera. From what Ezra and Clara told me, I have a feeling we could be good friends."
"Yes," exclaimed Vera. "Come along to the kitchen, we need to get to know each other. Mom, you wanna come with to have some girl time?"
"Sure," said Mom springing up from her spot on the ground and both of them lead Aria away. Dad and I looked at each other and muttered, "Women," which earned up a confused glance from Clara.
Aria POV:
"So," said Vera who was leaning over to counter towards me. "What do you think of out little Ezra?"
"I love him. I really do," I said pushing my hair away from my face in an embarrassed fashion.
"No need to be embarrassed, dear," said Gillian, who patted my back. "He loves you so much. You are pretty much all her talks about."
"She's right you know," said Vera, who was raiding the fridge and pulled out a carrot. "If you ask me, he's whipped. Majorly," she said causing all three of us to laugh. I was really liking Ezra's family.
"And Clara," asked Gillian.
"I love her...like she is my own," I said lowering my voice on the last part. "She's is one of the most intelligent and caring, and not to mention beautiful little girls I ever met. She's quite bright during class," I said smiling.
"She really loves you too," said Vera. "They came over for dinner at my apartment the week you first came around, and all she talked about was how pretty and nice her mommy was." I smiled at Vera's remark.
Gillian took my hand and look me straight in the eyes. "Aria, dear. We are all so thankful you did this for Ezra and Clara. Audrey was, excuse my language, but was..."
"A shit ass mother and girlfriend," interrupted Vera.
"For the lack of a better word, yes she was. We've known about your and Ezra's relationship from when it started in Rosewood," said Gillian. My face and emotions went into utter shock.
"You...you knew?"
"Yes, Ezra could barely keep it from us. His voice always sounded so light and happy when he spoke to us about you. At first, we were shocked at his decision, but we all saw that you made him happy, which was something difficult to do ever since..."
"That bitch, Jackie," interrupted Vera.
"Vera Nicole Fitz! Could you please watch your language," asked Gillian.
"Sorry Mom."
"Anyways, he was heart broken when he left you. Then a few years later, he met Audrey. We all never really liked her, but she kept him preoccupied. When Clara was born, there was that light in his eyes that he had when he would visit sometimes and talk about you."
"He was barely upset when Audrey left," said Vera. "When he told us he'd found you again, he had that happiness he'd lost those years ago."
"I may not be Ezra's biological mother, but I've raised him like he was my own. He is my son and I love him very much. I want to know if you love him, honestly and truly," said Gillian.
I sucked in a deep breath and said, "I do."
Yay for the Fitz family! The reason why I left Wayne out of the disclaimer is because he belongs to Sara Shepard. There was the one minor detail in "Perfect" (which I've just finished) that Ezra has a father named Wayne that lives in NYC.
I'm going to tell you now, that next chapter will be fluffy...maybe a little steamy, but who knows!
Thank you to all my awesome reviewers! If you're out there, but haven't, don't be shy! I'd love to know what you think :D If you have any suggestions or ideas, please share!
I may not be able to update until Saturday night, or Monday at the latest (too many concerts this weekend...oh the joys of being a singer)
See you all then!
.soprano.