This is pretty much a filler chapter, but I know you guys were waiting for something. Next up will probably be a little visit from Ella with warning news about Byron. I'm not sure. I just wanted to give something to hold you all over.

Living together hadn't been as easy as Aria and Ezra thought it would be. While they did spend copious amounts of time together, rising and lying together was a totally different matter. They were running into simple couple troubles, such as forgetting to put down the toilet seat and cleaning her long hair from the shower drain. Little things like that, but they seemed to mean the world.

Slowly though, Aria was opening up. In Ezra's eyes, she was a rose; blossoming at a daunting pace. Never the less, when she laughed heartily or cracked a genuine smile, his hopes of her coming back to him sooner than later were heightened.

One day, she made a joke; just a smile quick quip, but a joke none the less. The giggle that flowed through Aria's mouth made Ezra's heart thump wildly. She wasn't as broken as he assumed, but the damage was still detrimental.

The nights were the worst. She'd wake up screaming and crying from a nightmare and end up awake for the rest of the night, curled tightly into a ball. After speaking with Ella, Ezra figured it would a good idea to send her to Dr. Sullivan. Aria had reluctantly agreed, wanting to be able to sleep again. Except, she only agreed on the terms that she'd go to the therapist after she went back to school, which was a whole other problem in itself.

The school had granted the girls a certain amount of time to stay home and recover after finding the dead body and capturing Mona, but Aria had gone over that slight vacation. Emily, Hanna, and Spencer were all back at school and she was staying huddled up with Ezra.

Not that Ezra minded spending day in and day out writing with Aria curled up at his side on the couch. But, she needed her education.

"I don't understand why you're putting off going to school. It's not going to be terrible," he said one Saturday afternoon. Aria, per usual, was lying on the couch. Except today, she had a book in her hands, eyes scanning over pages. Aria wasn't taking in the words in the book; she just wanted to distract herself.

"Because I can't."

"What do you mean, you can't? It's just school."

"I don't want to face anybody. I can't face anybody."

"Aria," Ezra sighed, putting down the mug he was going to use for another cup of coffee. He walked over to the couch and sat down, pulling her hands into his and resting them in his lap. "You can't hide forever. Look at Mona; granted you've only told me bits and pieces rather than the whole story, but see what happened? She got caught. While it's not the same situation, the saying still goes. People will start questioning why you're not at school and force you to go. It's better to be there on your own will than to avoid it and have people make you."

"God, Ezra," Aria sighed, a storm brewing up in her. "I hate it when you do this."

"Do what," he challenged, quirking an eyebrow. From common knowledge, he hadn't done anything except give her advice. Was there and issue for doing so?

"Treat me like a child! Baby me! I'm practically seventeen now. I don't need you or anyone to make decisions for me."

"Seriously? I'm not babying you at all. I'm just trying to help. Isn't that what you wanted me for while you're like this? To help you?"

"I don't really want you at all at the moment. Just…leave me alone." Aria groaned, leaning back on the couch to take up her book once more.

"Fine. If that's what you want." Ezra was fuming as he picked up a few papers and shuffled them into a neat stack. "I have to take these over to the newspaper anyways. Have fun being alone."

Aria bit her lip as he walked out and slammed the door. What had she done?

Ezra had gone back an hour later that afternoon, but the two weren't speaking. Still angry at one another and a bit ashamed, they didn't want to speak. But, the hours ticked on. Aria ate her left over Chinese food on the couch while Ezra ate in the kitchen. She showered and did things on her own accord, climbing into bed around eleven.

He settled down in sweats with his laptop the same time she shut the overhanging light off near the bed. Aria bit her lip while tears welled up in her eyes. She hadn't meant to start an argument; she shouldn't have opened her mouth at all. But, without Ezra next to her, she couldn't sleep.

A small whimper escaped her lips and traveled over to Ezra's ears. His heart lurched, knowing this time it wasn't any memory that was making her cry, but his stubbornness and their arguing. Ezra wasn't mad at her anymore anyways; only at himself for letting the cold shoulder treatment last so long. He sighed with resolve and turned off his laptop so it wouldn't overheat itself and walked over to the bed.

They always said never to sleep angry.

Pulling back the covers, he slid in next to her. Aria felt the weight of the bed shift and smiled through the silent tears running down her cheeks; the storm was over. Or at least, she hoped it was. Ezra hadn't wrapped his arms around her yet. Seconds ticked by until they turned into minutes. Aria had given up hope, but Ezra's arm snaked around her waist and pulled her closely against his chest.

Her head rested on the spot just above his heart to listen to the drumming against his rib cage. That always seemed to lull her to sleep or a point of relaxation.

"I'm sorry," Aria whispered into the dark room, her head buried into the fabric of Ezra's tee shirt. His hand brushed through her hair soothingly, massaging her scalp here and there.

"It's alright, Ar. We both were wrong. But all is forgiven. Just sleep." The arm wrapped around her waist pulled Aria up so he could press his lips against her forehead. With his gentle kiss, Aria knew everything would be okay.

"I love you."

"I love you too. Now get some sleep."

Hopefully, Aria wouldn't have any nightmares tonight. Ezra could only hope and pray.