A/N: Only one chapter - sorry guys, but I do want to thank pmartin33 for helping me fix an error with Aria's ankle. If you all look back now, I changed it to only being a sprained ligament (or something like that) so Aria would avoid the whole surgery thing. I had no clue about all those minor things, so that was my error, which I totally apologize for. And also, sorry if its not changed throughout the rest of the story, I didn't have a chance to proofread the chapter.

Mike came home as the couple continued to snuggle. His passing by of Aria's room consisted of a "hey" before making it into his own room and getting on his cell phone. Aria seemed to think that Mike didn't even know Jason was here.

"So what was up with today?" Jason asked when Mike shut his bedroom door and they went back to talking about their days.

"When?" Aria asked trying to buy herself some time by acting dumb.

"The look Holden and Noel were sharing. Your look too," he stated.

"Holden just has some beef with him that's all," Aria shrugged.

"Involving you?" Jason asked cautiously. His girlfriend was silent, still playing with their hands trying to figure out the answer.

"What am I missing here Ar?"

"Nothing," she murmured, staring away from him in the totally opposite direction.

"Hey," he said puling her chin to face him. "What's going on?"

"It's a long story Jase," she murmured as she went to bury her face in him.

"Tell me what's going on," he stated, hugging her close when he noticed how stiff she seemed to be. "Did Noel or Holden do something? Say something? Is one of them in trouble?"

Aria shook her head and tried to take in deep breaths. If she was going to tell Jason, he was going to positively flip and she wasn't sure if she could handle experiencing that.

"Aria," he said now going to push her away. Taking her face-to-face, Jason read deep into her eyes. "What did he do?"

Aria realized exactly after that phrase was spoken that Jason caught on it was Noel. She could already see his jaw was set and he was getting angry. Just how upset was he going to be when she told him the truth?

"That night…you found Holden and I," she spoke shakily. Gripping onto him tightly, he made sure to keep her close so she would continue. "I was up on the roof trying to find Caleb."

"Okay," Jason said calming his anger so Aria would tell him everything. "Somehow, the brick was removed from where I placed it at the door. I couldn't get back into the school. And I thought I heard noises so I went to go climb up higher…"

Swallowing hard, she buried her face in him and fatefully told the rest of the story. "I was too freaked out that someone was on the roof with me that when Noel appeared, it surprised me. He grabbed my ankle to try and get me down from the ladder – He was looking for Caleb..."

Jason immediately went stiff and began pulling Aria away. Holding onto him tight she shut her eyes and begged him not to go anywhere or do anything. "Holden got to me before Noel could pull me down and helped me back into the school. We removed the brick from the roof so Noel couldn't follow us down."

"…That's when you ran into us," she ended.

Jason didn't say anything for a while as he tried to reel in his anger for Aria's sake. She had a death grip on him and seemed worried for how he was handling it all.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he snapped angrily.

"Because of this," she muttered more to herself than him. Glancing up from his chest, he noticed her eyes glassy with tears. "I didn't want you to be like this. You're mad."

"Of course I am Aria. He hurt you. He did this to you!" he wanted to yell.

"You don't think I know that," she said in a helpless voice, which was crushing to hear from Jason's perspective. "I know what he did – I was there. I…I didn't want you to hurt him."

Taming his anger, Jason heaved a few breaths and then snaked a finger into Aria's hair. "You have no idea how much I want to," he murmured, "you have no idea how much I want to kill him for doing this to you."

"Please don't," she begged. "Please, just leave it alone. He knows what he did and he got his ass kicked by Holden."

"What if he wasn't there Aria?" Jason asked her. "What if Holden hadn't come?"

"But he did," she pushed as she held onto his arm. "He was there and took care of Noel for me." Setting her forehead back on Jason's chest, she listened to his erratic heartbeat and kissed his neck trying to calm him down. "Promise me when you leave here you wont go hunt him down."

Jason stayed quiet unsure if he could do that. He felt like an angry bull when it came to that Noel kid. If he were to promise this to Aria, he would have to stick with it.

"I promise," he forced out. "But you need to promise me something," he said pulling her head away to look at him. "If this ever happens again you tell me. I don't want you to be afraid of my temper."

"I'm not – like that," she spoke. "Then promise me," he said. Sighing, Aria debated it for a few seconds and then nodded. "I promise."

"Good," he said before laying his lips on her with force. The thought of losing her and not being there was unthinkable. He had him wanting to slap himself for not coming after her during the second break – he took the route of trying to give her some space instead. For that being of time, he sat against the brick wall and stuck his ipod in his ears.

Jason was disgusted with himself and his actions. He left Aria in a time of need.

"Please stop," she whimpered to him. Breaking his thoughts, his eyes searched hers. "I know how you think. Please stop, you couldn't have done anything for me. You didn't even know where I was."

"I should have gone after you," he said with a clenched jaw. Aria immediately ran her fingers along the bone to make him ease up, and when that worked, she kissed him too. "I wouldn't have wanted you to anyways."

Knowing she was right, Jason felt a bit of comfort at that. Ease began to settle in for him when he felt Aria run her hands over his tense shoulder and chest. Her hands were amazing, so soft and warm. He was glad to have someone like her by his side when he was like this. Pulling away, he took her by the face and leaned in, kissing her in a deep passionate way.

"You ever go near her again and you will regret it," Jason gritted out as he held Noel up by the collar, wrinkling up his shirt with tight fists. Noel was looking scared as shit and was just barely dangling off the ground while against the lockers.

Commotion was stirring and even though school hadn't started yet students still began rushing in to see the fight.

"What's going on?" Emily wondered, trying to look in at the school's entrance. Getting up from the table outside, the four of them walked into the school with many others and tried to see what was happening.

She heard his voice before seeing him and panic struck her. Making her way through the crowd, with much embarrassment and hardship since she was on crutches, Aria grabbed Jason's arm and pleaded with him to let Noel down. "Please stop," she begged. Tugging on his arm, she continued to try and wrench Noel from his grasp. Everyone was looking and Aria was worried a teacher or the principal would come by and fire Jason. Glaring at Noel for a few more seconds, Jason finally let go of him and backed off. "Lets go," Aria murmured, leading him outside to cool off and explain everything to her.

The walk down the hallway gave Jason a bit of the time he needed to simmer down so he could talk to Aria, but he was still fueled with adrenaline and anger. Noel deserved a lot more than he got, especially since the kid always carried a smug look on his face.

"What the hell Jason!" Aria exclaimed with anger as they reached the courtyard. Flinging down her crutches, she spun around boiling with anger. "You can't just do that!"

He dove for her lips, crashing them together against his. He took control, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck while swiftly pulling her so close that her back had to arch against him. He parted lips with hers; sucking hard like this was the last kiss they would ever share. Slowly, as they needed to catch their breaths, he began to let go of her, only now to nibble on her lips.

"That's not fair," she whispered finally getting rid of the fog in her head and pushing him away from her.

"I had to Aria," he breathed, still holding her body with aching passion. "I needed to do something. I had to let him know I knew and I wouldn't let him hurt you again."

"I told you not to," she groaned, trying to create more distance between them.

"I know," he said helplessly doing what she wanted. Leaving go of her, he watched as she went to sit down at one of the tables and covered her face with her hands. This was all so messed up now. Noel could go to the principal and get Jason fired. Half of the school was proof that he practically assaulted a student and it didn't help that this was all because of her.

"I should have never told you," she muttered to herself.

"No!" he said immediately sliding over to talk with her. "You promised me."

"And you promised me!" she exclaimed facing him. Jason's jaw clenched; he did give Aria a promise that he wouldn't do anything too rash or hunt the guy down…

"It won't happen again," he settled. Leaning forward on his knees, he gazed at her "I'm done and I'm sorry – not for the pushing him up against the locker part but making you upset."

Sighing, Aria leaned into him and buried her face where she could. "What happens if you get fired?"

"Then I get fired," he shrugged making her pull away. With the statement she just made, he knew she was making this personal now. "Aria, this isn't your fault. I didn't beat the guy up because of what you told me, but because it was the right thing to do."

"Do you know how wrong that sounds?" Aria wondered. He gave a shrug and continued to stare at her. "Do you know how many messed up kids I get because they deal with people like Noel on a day to day basis?"

Aria's facial features softened. He talked about his yesterday too. "Don't get me wrong, I was pissed that he touched you, especially hurting you in the process. And I know I promised you that I wouldn't go off the deep end but…I'm tired of seeing people like him get away with things that hurt others. I wasn't just going to let him hurt you and think it was okay."

"I appreciate your hero side," she said running a hand over the side of his face and through his hair, "but you can't go around shoving kids against their locker because you think that's what they deserve. To be a bigger and better person you just have to let it go and keep helping the ones who need it."

"I'm tired of waiting," he said shaking his head, "and I'm tired of trying to be the bigger person. Guys like Noel shouldn't be getting away with what they do."

"I know," Aria said softly understanding how he was feeling, "but how are you going to get through to the kids who do need your help if you don't have a job? If you keep pushing up the bullies against the lockers and getting into fistfights, how are the kids going to learn? If your not there, how are they going to come to you?"

She had a few good points Jason had to admit, and he was slowly starting to realize the downfall to what he just did.

"I love you," she murmured to him as he sat there quietly thinking.

"I love you too," he spoke, taking Aria's head and kissing the top of it.

Jason ended up not getting in trouble for his actions. Although Noel wanted to go to the principal about it, Spencer pointed out to him before he could do so that he was going to have to tell the whole story. Needless to say, Noel was just as guilty and backed off from telling anyone.

The DiLaurentis himself had used Aria's life lesson to him to into gear to do something better. He some of his inheritance money and put it towards an office building downtown, where he opened a counseling center for younger kids and older adults who dealt with problems like Jason did.

Aria was proud of him for doing so. He accomplished a lot in a small amount of time. After the fight with Noel, he became even more dedicated to his work and strived to do better for others. The place he opened was in good business and many people stepped forward to try and talk out their problems. It made Jason happy, which in turn made Aria happy.

"I'll catch you when I can then?" Aria asked Jason over the phone as she got ready for Holden's tournament. Although she was on crutches, which made it hard to maneuver around, she still insisted that she would come and watch the battle.

"I guess so," Jason said tiredly. He had been so wrapped up in his new office and work that he and Aria rarely had time for each other now. They saw each other sometimes during passing time at school, but each were too busy to stop and talk. And Jason was too tired half the time to spend nights with Aria anymore.

Saying goodbye to him, she hung up the phone disappointedly and rushed to finish getting ready. Holden was going to pick her up tonight and tell her the difference between this competition and the other one she saw since Aria had no clue what the rules were.

"Bye mom," Aria called to her mom when Holden showed up.

"Have fun and be careful," Ella called back. Aria had told her that her and Holden were going to the outskirts of town to see an old movie and dinner to catch up, and she wouldn't be home until late so not to wait up. Shutting the front door behind her, she saw Holden getting out his car to help her get in the passenger side seat.

"Ready?" he asked with a large smile on his face.

"Lets go," she smiled back as he came back around and shut his own door.

The fight was even more intense than when Aria first went with him. She sat in the first row cheering for her friend as he battled a guy much bigger than him. Although Holden claimed that these people he went up against were picked especially for him and his group type, Aria had a hard time believing him. The ref called the end of the battle, which Holden won. Clapping hard, Aria flashed her friend a bright smile, feeling proud of him.

"So?" he asked sitting down with her in the audience with an ice pack around his torso.

"You were amazing," she claimed. "I can't believe you flipped that guy like that."

"Trust me, it came with a price," he said groaning at all the aches and pains.

"Yea, lets hope you can cover that one up," she said looking at his shoulder. There was a nice bruise starting to form, showing the dark purple and blue colors against his pale skin.

"You brought your make up right?" he winced.

"Yea," she nodded, relieved he was done for the night, "but I think you are going to need a lot more than what I brought."

They ended up sitting in the car, parked in the Montgomery driveway while Aria applied make up to the most visible bruises seen through his under layered white tee and dress shirt.

"Ow," he hissed as she dabbed more concealer on it.

"Sorry," she apologized, scrunching up her face. Applying it a bit gentler, she moved back and took a look at her work. "Okay, you should be fine, but wait till that dries to put your shirt back on."

"You want me to drive home shirtless?" he asked her.

"Unless you want to stay parked in my driveway till it dries," she said packing up her things. "And don't forget to sneak an ice pack up to your room," she stated, more in a requesting tone than a reminder.

"Thanks for coming again Aria," he said as she got out of his car. "Anytime. Let me know when the next one is," she replied with a smile.

"Got it," he said popping two aspirin in his mouth, swallowing them dry. Giving him a wave goodbye, Aria shut the car door and made it inside.

"Wow you look good with no crutches," Jason complimented the next day at school. He kissed her temple from behind, watching as she smiled brightly.

"Why thank you," she replied, enjoying the freedom and kissing him again briefly. Her mom took her to go see Wren early in the morning to make sure it was okay to stop using the crutches and with his stamp of approval, Aria was able to start wearing both shoes to school.

"So how was it?" Jason asked hanging by the side of her locker door.

"How was what?" she questioned resuming to getting her books out.

"Your time with Holden," he said watching her lovingly.

"Oh, it was good. More intense than last time but it was still fun." Aria had told Jason about what her and Holden were really doing. At first she was hesitant, not wanting to spill another person's secret but it was the only way she could explain it was a friend type of date and also not lie to him.

"How was your night?" she reciprocated, closing her locker and facing him.

"Uneventful," he claimed with a sigh. "I finished up some loose ends mostly and made sure to lock up the place.

"Fun," Aria teased as they began to walk. Hearing a beep, Aria went to reach for her phone.

Emily's house NOW. 911 – Hanna

Confused for a second, Aria stopped in the middle of the hallway and looked all around. It was a school day so why did Hanna want them to go to Emily's?

"Everything okay?" Jason wondered as he stopped with her.

"Uh…I think I have to go," she said closing her phone and glancing around to where Spencer, Hanna and Emily's locker would be. None of them were there and it was still early to go to class. Getting a pit in her stomach, Aria swallowed hard and went back to her locker to put away her things.

"What is it?" he asked her still following her.

"I don't know," she said opening the door, "but it doesn't sound - …."

"Aria," Ezra called from the hallway. Both her and Jason stiffened before glancing back at him. Inhaling deeply, Aria noticed how he seemed to have sympathy in his eyes. This was really not going to be good. Shutting her locker door, she murmured to Jason she would be right back and went to go talk to him. Aria slipped in the classroom with Ezra who was still giving her the sad eyes and shifted from foot to foot.

"I…I am so sorry for your loss," he stated with hardship.

"What?" she asked confused. Her phone began buzzing again but she was too worried on who might have been 'lost'.

"You don't know?" he asked reading her facial expressions.

"Know what?" she asked bewildered.

"…Aria, Maya's body was discovered in the woods early this morning."

Paling, Aria went to steady herself on the classroom doorway.

"Hey," he said trying to take a gentle hold of her. Pushing him away, she wrapped an arm around her torso and tried not to hurl. "I have to go," she rushed out and walked from the room. Making her way through the crowded hallway with a challenge, Aria tried not to lose it in front of everyone. As soon as the parking lot came into view, a sob racked her body and she rushed for her car.

"Aria!" Jason called, running after her as soon as she left Fitz's room. Able to catch up with her in the empty parking lot, he grabbed her arm spinning her around. His concern skyrocketed when he saw her with tears down her cheeks. She immediately dove into his chest and fell apart, sobbing in his chest.

Jason was at a lost of what was going on. One minute Aria was okay and the next she was crying her eyes out. "What happened? Did Fitz say something?" Shaking her head, Aria continued to clench onto him.

"Jason!" one of the faculty members, who he frequently worked with, called for him. The guy was waving him in back to school with a hurry. Being pulled in two different directions, he tried to calm down Aria. Running his hands up and down her arms, he kissed her head and tried to understand what was going on.

"Jason!" the guy called again.

"Go," Aria croaked out, turning her back to him and wiping the tears.

"Aria," he said trying to get her to look at him. Watching her shake her head, she wiped the falling tears and sucked up the sadness. "I have to go."

Opening her car door, Aria went to get in. "You're not driving like this," Jason stated concerned while holding onto her elbow. "Let go," she said weakly as she glanced away from him. Taking a deep breath in, she met his eyes, "please let go."

"What happened?" he asked helplessly as he removed his hand from her. Jason was continually called for, which made Aria realize she needed to get to Emily immediately. "Maya is dead." Wiping some more tears, Aria shut her door and started her car. Rushing off, Jason was left standing there frozen in place.

Mrs. Fields answered the door, wrapping Aria into a hug before letting her go upstairs. Everyone that knew Maya was hurting right now. Aria couldn't imagine how much pain her friend was in right now. Opening Emily's bedroom door, she saw Hanna holding a sobbing girl. Approaching the bed carefully, Aria took hold of her best friend too and let her cry.

That's how they stayed until mid afternoon. Spencer had shown up a few minutes after Aria with puffy red cheeks and they all hugged each other. Emily was quiet for the rest of the day, even more so towards the night.

"Do you want us to stay?" Hanna asked rubbing her friend's back.

"No, you guys should go," Emily emptily responded with a pillow curled on her lap.

"We don't mind," Aria insisted gently. Instead of getting a response, Emily went and laid down on her bed. She had cried for so long that the girls assumed she couldn't produce any more tears.

"We'll come by tomorrow," Spencer said with sad eyes. Picking up her things, the girls went and followed. Murmuring goodbyes to Mrs. Fields, who was coming up to check on her daughter, the three of them left. Neither of them spoke when the walked out of the house, and except for small goodbyes, nothing else was said.

It was a quiet drive for all of them getting home. The car radios were off and they were left in silence and their thoughts. All three of them made it home safely, and all three of them cried to their families when they made it in the house. Both Hanna and Aria collapsed in their mother's arms while Spencer had Toby. It was a shock for both of them – to lose someone so familiar and close to them. It was like Ali all over again and it felt horrible.