After an hour of cuddling Ezra got up to ask for a crib for Lila, there was no way Aria was going to let her leave her side. Once a nurse had arrived with the crib Ezra walked over and gently lifted Lila from Aria's arms and placed the sleeping baby into the crib. Ezra then made his way back over to the bed and saw Aria crying.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Ezra asked sitting down on the bed beside of Aria.
"I hurt our little girl." Aria said crying.
"It wasn't your fault, it was the person who ran that red light's fault." Ezra said wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"But I put my daughter in danger and she got hurt." Aria said looking over at Lila who was sleeping in the crib.
"Aria, stop it. You didn't mean for any of it to happen. You have to stop blaming yourself. Where were you going anyway?" Ezra asked realizing he had never found out where she was on her way to.
"Nowhere." Aria said looking away from Ezra.
"Aria, I know you were going somewhere, just tell me where." Ezra said gently bringing Aria's face to look at him.
"I was on my way to see you." Aria said and instantly saw Ezra's face drop. "I had gotten your letter and I didn't want to let you go. I was on my way to your apartment to tell you that I loved you and the last thing I remember was Lila's cries."
"Aria, I am so sorry. I should have never left without talking about it with you." Ezra said feeling more guilt then Aria had.
"Ezra it's not your fault it's the person who ran the red light's fault." Aria said taking Ezra's hands in hers and looking at him. She could see the tears threatening to fall from his eyes and pulled him close.
"I just want to protect you, the both of you." Ezra said from his place on her shoulder.
"You do, you had no idea that I was on my way. I just want to put all of this behind us and move forward." Aria said as Ezra pulled back and looked at her.
"I do too. When do you get to go home?" Ezra asked changing the subject.
"I'm not sure, they want to keep an eye on my lung and make sure my ribs are healing. So hopefully in a few days. Ezra whenever I get back to Myra's I want you to stay for a few days. I'm really going to need help for a few weeks and I know you love to spend time with her." Aria said looking down at her hands nervous about what Ezra would think of her proposal.
"I would love to stay." Ezra said pulling Aria close. "How's your head?" Ezra asked remembering the swelling she had when she first came in.
"Good, I only ended up with a concussion. My wrist hurts the most I think, well that and when I laugh or cough." Aria said.
"I'll be there no matter what to help you get better." Ezra said as he started to rub her casted wrist. "Let's get some sleep so you can get better faster."
"I think that is a great idea." Aria said with a yawn as she snuggled down in the bed and pulled Ezra with her. Being careful of all of her injuries Ezra just laid there holding her broken wrist and stroking her hair as Aria snuggled closer to him.
*PLL*
Ezra woke up the next morning to Lila's wails. He felt Aria begin to stir under his arm that was limply laid over her side. He sat up and opened his eyes a few times to get used to the lighting and made his way to Lila. Once he had reached her crib her wails slowed to cries.
"What's the matter baby?" Ezra cooed as he picked her up and started to rock her.
"She's probably hungry." Aria said as she struggled to sit herself up.
"I wish I could help in that area but I am not a woman." Ezra chuckled and handed Lila over to Aria who was now sitting up.
"She will be able to feed from a bottle in a few weeks then you can help. I really hate that she didn't nurse for a few days." Aria said as Ezra came back and sat down beside of her.
"I know, but I really liked that I could feed her. It made me feel useful." Ezra said rubbing Lila's curly locks as the baby ate.
"Well if you want to feel helpful today then you can change her diaper when she's done eating." Aria smirked and looked up at Ezra who had his arm around her.
"It would be my pleasure." Ezra said with a laugh.
Once Aria was done feeding Lila Ezra changed her and placed her back in Aria's waiting arms. "You know Ezra when I was in a coma I heard you. It's all like a dream but I heard you plead for me to wake up and I heard Lila every time she cried or giggled. If it weren't for you two I may have never have woken up."
"I'm glad we could be of help." Ezra laughed and tickled Lila's feet who kicked at his hand and giggled. "Aria, are you okay?" Ezra asked noticing that Aria was staring off into space.
"Oh uh yeah, I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have you back in my life and that Lila has a father." Aria said leaning into Ezra.
*PLL*
"Hey mom how are you?" Aria asked once her mother entered the room. Aria was watching TV. Ezra was asleep on the side of the bed and Lila was sleeping away in her crib.
"I'm fine honey. How are you?" Ella asked as she came closer and sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the bed that Ezra was asleep on.
"Good, still really sore and tired but so glad to have my entire family with me." Aria said placing a hand on Ezra's side and looking over at Lila.
"You know if this was a year ago and you were in the same bed as Ezra I would have sent his butt off to jail in a heartbeat." Ella laughed.
"Yeah well I guess we have all changed a little bit."
"I guess we have. This whole situation has been one heck of a rollercoaster but I am just glad that you and Ezra finally got back together and that Lila has both a mom and a dad."
"Me too, I'm just glad that Ezra fought and didn't give up on me when I tried so hard to push him away." Aria told her mom and looked back over at Ezra who was lightly snoring.
"You know he needs to know." Ella said to Aria in an almost whisper so Ezra wouldn't hear.
"I know and I will." Aria said already done with the subject.
"Aria, he won't be mad at you, he will be able to help. And when I say help I mean with everything." Ella said as Ezra turned onto his back and snored even louder.
"I know." Aria began but was interrupted when Lila began to cry from the crib.
"What's wrong my precious grandbaby?" Ella cooed as she leaned over and picked up Lila who stopped crying.
"I think she got spoiled from Ezra holding her constantly over the past few days." Aria said.
"You have done your fair share of holding her as well." Ella stated with a smirk.
"I missed my baby." Aria said defensively.
"Well at this age she will get spoiled and that will be okay. Just raise not to be a brat and be thankful for what she has and she will turn out great. With any luck she will turn out just like her mommy." Ella said playing with Lila.
"I did have a really great mother to help me though. A very supportive one I might add." Aria said smiling at Ella.
"Just remember that supportiveness when she comes home at the age of 16 with her 20something teacher." Ella laughed.
"I doubt Ezra will even let her out of the house until she is 40." Aria said looking over at Ezra who was slowly waking up. "Hey sleepy head, we were just talking about you."
"Oh no, that is never a good thing." Ezra said slowly sitting up and kissing Aria.
"We were just saying about what you would do if Lila ever came home with her 20something English teacher." Ella piped in.
"I don't even want to think about her dating boys her own age. If she looks anything like her mother we are going to have fight the boys off with sticks." Ezra said looking down at a blushing Aria.
"I hope she has some of your looks too. I really hope who eyes stay the color that they are." Aria said gazing over at Lila who was staring at the ceiling from Ella's arms.
*PLL*
Aria was released from the hospital the next day. She made her way slowly up to the apartment with the help of Ezra and her father. She was still very weak and her ankle was still pretty messed up but she felt great to just be home. Ezra had agreed to stay with them for as long as Aria wanted him to. Myra had no objection and was really glad he was because her plan to get them together had ultimately worked.
"So Ezra where are you going to stay tonight?" Myra asked coming into the living room where Aria and Ezra were both sitting on the couch.
"I uh, I don't know." Ezra said unsure knowing that he and Aria hadn't talked about it yet.
"With me, or with Lila." Aria said from her place on the couch beside of Ezra.
"Okay, well I'm going to the store. We have no food." Myra said.
"Yeah, we are going to go have a date night before we head back to Rosewood tomorrow." Ella said grabbing Byron and pulling him out of the door.
"Ezra can you get me some of my pain medicine." Aria asked once everyone had left. She was trying to get comfortable but was not succeeding.
"Of course, where are they?" Ezra asked.
"In the bathroom, in the medicine cabinet." Aria said pointing towards the bathroom as if Ezra didn't know where it was.
"I'll be right back." Ezra said as he made his way to the bathroom. He was rummaging through the cabinet going over each bottle finding everything from Tylenol to the pre-natal vitamins that Aria must have not thrown away yet. He made his way over each bottle before coming across one that he knew was prescribed for depression. He picked it up hoping it was an old bottle or one for Myra. It felt like a ton of bricks had landed on his chest when he saw that it was filled three weeks ago and that it was in fact Aria's. Ezra was brought out of his train of thought when he heard Aria ask where he was. He quickly found the pain medicine and shut the cabinet before making his way back to the living room where Aria was waiting.
"What took you so long?" Aria asked once Ezra had come back.
"Oh, I couldn't find the medicine then I dropped a bottle of Tylenol and had to pick it up." Ezra said bringing Aria her medicine and a glass of water.
"Oh okay." Aria said snuggling in close to Ezra when he sat down. "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know we could watch a movie or something." Ezra suggested pulling Aria as close as he could.
"That sounds amazing, let me just go put down Lila." Aria said pointing towards the playpen where Lila was sleeping.
"No let me get her." Ezra said jumping up.
"Ezra I can do things myself." Aria protested.
"I know but I like doing things for you." Ezra said kissing Aria before getting up to get Lila.
Ezra picked up Lila who only stirred from her sleep at being picked up. He took her over to Aria who kissed her good-night and then took her to the nursery. He held her for a moment and gazed down at her and wondered how he had gotten so lucky to have such a beautiful daughter. He laid her down in the crib and his mind wondered back to Aria and how much he had messed up her life. Had he really messed her up so much that she had to be on medicine?
*PLL*
Aria fell asleep half way through her and Ezra's favorite movie It Happened that Night. Ezra looked down at Aria who now had her head on Ezra's lap. He began to stroke her hair and rub her back. She stirred slightly but not enough to wake up. When the movie was over Ezra picked her up and took her to her room and tucked her in. when he was turning around to leave he heard someone mumble something and turned back to see Aria half awake. He walked over and sat down on the side of the bed.
"Did you say something?" Ezra asked as he rubbed her arm.
"Stay with me tonight." Aria said grabbing his hand.
"Are you sure?" Ezra asked not wanting to push her in any way that he shouldn't.
"Yes, I know the bed is small but I want you here with me. I want to be in your arms." Aria said now completely awake.
"I want to be nowhere else but here." Ezra said as he walked over to the bag of his he had brought in earlier and changed into his sweatpants and a t-shirt. He then got in the bed and wrapped his arms around Aria and pulled her close. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" Ezra asked as he nuzzled his face into her neck.
"I know." Aria said with a faint smile full of guilt and sadness. "I love you." Aria said as Ezra drifted off to sleep with his arms wrapped protectively around her.
A/N: Thanks so much guys for all of the reviews it means so much to me. I appreciate the feedback as I do this along with my schoolwork and work. Please keep giving me feedback and shootouts and reviews I love it all. A special thanks to WWKMDbracelets who helped with this chapter and the next. Also thanks to my bff who helped with the overall idea and to my little brother who helps me think of words when I can't. I have neglected to thank them in the past and feel that they need it. Lol Thanks also to those of you who give feedback and let me know what you think I love it. Remember to tweet me (han_itsthelaw20) and let me know what you think.
xoxoxox