Thanksgiving approached quickly, just two days after they saw their dad. Ella had invited numerous people – some who Aria didn't even know.
"Hey Hanna," Aria said opening the door for her friend and Mrs. Marin. The party had already begun in full swing.
"Wow, look at this place," Ashley said as Aria took her coat. People were all around, talking, eating appetizers and standing around. "Did you guys want something to drink?" Aria wondered.
"We will spare you the work and get it," Mrs. Marin smiled sympathetically to her.
"Wow, you weren't kidding," Hanna murmured to Aria after her mom left. Glancing around, she saw many of the teachers from school, the neighborhood, and a bunch of others she didn't know.
"Is that Mr. Fitz?" Hanna asked as she saw him standing around. "And Jackie?!" she exclaimed.
"Yea," Aria said with a breath.
"Wow, what was that like when you answered he door?" Hanna asked intrigued.
"Awkward," Aria replied. Understanding, both girls stood around and watched the people in the crowded house. "So where's your dad?"
"Not here yet," Aria sighed. "He was supposed to be here earlier with the wine but he hasn't showed yet."
"Here you go Ar," Jason inturrputed, handing Aria her drink. "Thanks," Aria smiled while taking it in her hands. Each saying hello to each other, Aria left Jason and Hanna to answer the door again. "Holden!" Aria smiled. "Hey Mr. and Mrs. Strauss," she also greeted while opening the front door wider.
"Aria, where did you put the rolls?" Mike murmured to his sister before there could be more of a conversation. "Mom's freaking out."
"Okay, I'm coming," she said as she took the guests' jackets. Quickly hanging them up, she gave both Jason and Hanna a sympathetic smile as she passed.
"Here," Aria said to her mom while getting the rolls from the drawer and tossing them in a basket.
"Where is Byron?" Ella groaned to herself. Their dad had played a disappearing at on them so to save the day Jason came over early and helped them. He picked up the wine, ran out to get ice and other things they needed, all while staying in a jolly mood with Aria's crazy mother. Hearing a knock on the door, Ella quickly looked up from the open oven. "Aria! The door!"
"Okay okay," Aria said going to rush over and get it. Pushing past the people while also murmuring her hello's she tried making her way to the front of the house.
"We're engaged!" a voice squealed out. Aria halted in place when she saw it was Opal holding her hands up in the air with a nice rock on her finger. Byron, who was a bit embarrassed, confirmed it and hugged his soon to be wife tightly to his side.
The loud voices were hush after the big announcement, but didn't stay quiet for too long when people soon began gathering around the couple to congratulate them.
"Oh no," Hanna murmured to Jason trying to look for Aria now.
Still frozen in shock, Aria stood in her place and tried not to let the announcement hit her too hard. Engaged? Engaged… Marching up to her father, Aria tried to pull him aside so they could talk hushly.
"You're engaged?!" she asked him incredulously.
"I know it's a big change," he said with a silly smile on his face. Taking in her dad's appearance and the smell of him, she went wide eyed. "You're drunk."
"Not drunk," he said to her. "Just tipsy."
"You proposed to Opal when you were tipsy and now you show up here to your former wife's house?!"
"Its my house too," he corrected, swaying a bit as he held onto her shoulder, "and this is something you wouldn't understand. When you get older you'll know – until then though, this is none of your business."
Snatching her body away, she glared at her dad. "This is as much of my business as it is moms."
"Aria, don't make a scene," he said looking around for people watching them. Keeping up appearances, he took her arm again.
"Get your hands off of me," she gritted snatching her arm back.
"Honey," he called unstably as she pushed her way through the crowd. She stopped when she got to the stairway seeing Mike out of the corner of her eye. He was staring at his dad and Opal and then glancing to Aria like he was confirming it all. Shaking his head when he realized it was all true, his dad was indeed going to get married again, he backed away and went out the back kitchen door.
Running up the stairs to her room, Aria quickly shut the door behind her and slid down the wood. Taking in deep breaths, she tried not to cry. How did this happen? Why did this happen? Was this why they were late? His girlfriend was barely his actual girlfriend till a month ago.
"Aria?" Jason's voice called while knocking on the door. Cursing herself, Aria heaved a sob and buried her head in her hands. Did her dad think of how his kids would feel? And what about her mom? Oh god her mom…
"Ar, let me in," he commanded. Still nothing, Hanna tried this time. "Aria, its just us. Open the door."
The two of them stayed there for a while, knowing that Aria was keeping herself in her room. "Jason, why don't you go check on Mike?"
He automatically went to decline, but she gave a pointed look. "Aria's probably worried about him. And knowing you, you can get through to him best."
Sighing, Jason ran a hand through his hair. Aria couldn't exactly hear what Hanna said next but whatever it was made Jason decide Aria was in good hands with Hanna. "I'll be back Ar," Jason called past the door before he left. After hearing the footsteps fade, Hanna's knocking came again. She tried a few more times, trying different ways to get Aria to open the door. Finally, after standing there tiredly on her feet, she tried one last time.
"Come here," Hanna instructed when she saw Aria. Her incessant knocking worked as she took Aria into her arms and stepped into her room. Shutting the door behind her, Hanna held her friend tightly. She knew exactly how Aria was feeling since she was once in the same place. Hanna and Aria's dads were a bit different, but they were still fathers. She knew what it felt like to have another woman come into their lives and try to fill that other 'mom' spot.
"I can't believe he's doing this Han," Aria sniffled.
"You know what Spencer and Emily would be doing right now?" Hanna said brushing Aria's hair away from her face while trying to cheer her up. "They would be downstairs, in your dad's face, kicking his ass."
Aria gave a small laugh, wiping her tears. Both Emily and Spencer had other plans to attend. Spencer was out of town with her family for a few days, enjoying the holiday the 'Hastings way' she liked to call it. As for Emily, her and her family decided to have a Thanksgiving dinner with just the three of them. It was Mr. Field's first thanksgiving back and they thought it would just be nice to do something at home.
"I don't know how my mom's going to handle this," Aria stated whipping some tears from her cheeks. "Last time she was so crushed that my dad cheated on her again and now…"
"She'll be okay," Hanna said supportively. "Your mom has always been strong. Your dad marrying this bozo will barely affect her."
"Thanks Han," Aria sniffled again as she leaned into.
"That's what friends are for," Hanna chirped. As she held her friend comfortably, she thought about the rough emotions Aria was going to experience. If Opal was like anything Hanna observed, she was going to be a handful. At least Isabel had common sense and was a bit more reserved. This woman was like some bimbo on TV. She had a loud mouth, dressed like she was still in her 20s (although she was probably only in her late 30s), and thought Byron's kids were so 'cute'. Like really? Who uses that word to describe people anymore?
Hearing a throat clear, both girls looked up to the person coming in the room.
"Hey," Jason said trying to give a smile.
"I'll let you two handle it from here," Hanna smiled as Aria gazed at him. Giving Jason a look, she peered at Aria one last time before shutting the door behind her and going downstairs.
"How are you holding up?" Jason said coming to sit in the spot Hanna was. Snaking an arm around her back, Aria wiped some more tears from her cheeks and sniffled again.
"I can't believe he did this," she replied looking up to try and keep the tears at bay. Composing herself again, she brushed the wet tears off her cheeks. "How's Mike?"
"He's alright – needed to take a few minutes to himself," Jason spoke as he kept his eyes focused on Aria. There was so much going on with her and he wanted to make sure that she was going to be okay.
"He's a strong kid – a lot stronger than you think. He'll be okay; he has you."
Nodding, Aria tried to agree with him. "Ugh!" she groaned as she was bombarded with more emotions. She hated crying and letting people see her weak.
"Hey," Jason said gently, bringing her hands down from her face. "Its okay." Wiping fresh tears away and continued to hold her face in the palm of his hand lovingly. Salty water filled her eyes again and finally fell. Jason took her in his arms holding her small figure close. She sobbed in his embrace for a while, letting it all out.
"I was thinking we could have a bon fire tomorrow at my place," he said trying to take her mind off of the problem at hand when she calmed back down. "I was going to finish the pit and then maybe have all our friends over?"
Aria loved the fact that he called her friends 'ours'. Everything was now 'ours' instead of 'yours' or 'mine' and he enjoyed spending time with all the others. "Sounds amazing," she nodded, thinking it truly was perfect to get her mind off of today.
Hearing a knock on the door, Jason and Aria looked to see Ella peeking her head in the door. "Am I interrupting?"
"No," Jason said looking down to Aria. "We were just talking about having a bon fire tomorrow."
"Oh, that sounds nice," Ella replied still cool as a cucumber.
"You're welcome to come," Jason said slowly leaving go of Aria and getting up. He was getting the cue that the female Montgomerys needed to talk.
"I'll think about it," Ella said with honesty. A night out sounded good and Jason was a sweet kid.
"Ar, I'll wait for you downstairs," Jason said before kissing her head and nodding at Mrs. Montgomery as he left.
"So…" Ella trailed, shuffling further into the room with her hands entwined with each other. "I talked to Mike."
"How is he?" Aria wondered concerned.
"He'll be okay," she nodded while giving a flat smile. Becoming very serious, Ella came closer to her daughter and sat on the other side of the bed. "But I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine," Aria immediately answered.
"Honey, you've been crying," Ella said putting a gentle hand up to her daughter's face.
"Its just because he's marrying her," she answered shaking her head as she got up from the mattress. She went over to her make up bag and opened her closet door to stand in front of the mirror.
"I mean, it's barely been a month," Aria sighed as she opened her mascara.
"A little over that," Ella answered.
Sighing again, Aria turned back to her mom. "I'm so sorry mom, I didn't mean it like that."
"Aria, I'm okay," Ella insisted. "I can handle your father and his crazy decisions. I'm just worried for you and Mike. What your father pulled today was very wrong with him and I made sure that he never does something like this again. He should have told you both in private."
"You yelled at him?" Aria asked surprised.
"More like kicked him and Opal out," she said flashing Aria a smile.
"Seriously?" her daughter asked with wide eyes as she came to sit back on the bed. "Mom that's awesome."
"Not totally awesome," Ella said, "but it needed to be done."
Giving a laugh, Aria went and hugged her mom.
"It will turn out all right Aria. You just need to give it some time."
Aria was hesitant and a little confused on why her mom was taking this so well. When Aria told her mom that her dad was cheating on her again, she was a wreck. The whole ordeal with the knife and deep depression. Why was she so chill with him possibly getting married? "Did you–…did you know about this?"
She gave a heavy pause and pulled back from her daughter's embrace. "I didn't exactly know about it, but I could see it coming."
"But…why didn't you tell us?" Aria asked feeling betrayed.
"Aria," Ella sighed, "your father and I were very young when we met. We fell in love so quickly and had kids that we never really took time to settle down for ourselves." Watching her daughter go back to trying to do her makeup, Ella made sure that Aria understood her. "Recently, with Opal, I've seen a change in him. He's trying to live that younger life he missed out on," she said. "But there is only so much he can go back to and feel normal with. I think that him asking her to marry him was because of his insecurity and ill adjustment."
"And if it isn't?" Aria murmured quietly as she looked down to her eyeliner in her hands. "What if its not that at all?" she wondered staring up at her mom through the mirror.
"Then I wish them happiness," Ella claimed. "I can't justify your father's actions or try and figure out why he's doing what he is. All I can do is accept them and move on. My time now is for you and Mike."
Bowing her head again, she played with the bracelets on her wrist."…Does it bother you that you didn't have that younger life period?" Aria questioned tentatively.
Getting up, Ella moved behind Aria and gathered her hair to one side. "You and Mike have been my life for…oh, you can't even imagine how long," Ella teased with a smile. "And I would never trade that for the world. I may have become an older woman since I've had the two of you, but I don't think of myself as old yet, do you?" she joked curiously at the end.
Cracking a smile, Aria stared back at her mom and shook her head.
"I'm happy with the ways things are Aria. I wouldn't trade you or Mike for the world."
"Thanks mom," Aria spoke softly while resuming her make up.
"I'll meet you downstairs, don't take too long."
Nodding, Aria watched her mom leave her room and finished putting on her make up.
"Better?" Jason asked when she reached the bottom step. He had been waiting for her with a drink in hand, leaning against the wall near the stairs.
"Yea," Aria said plastering on a smile. Slipping her arm in his, he led her to the dinner table and grabbed a seat.
"Need help?" Aria asked her mom when she noticed her going back and forth from the kitchen to the table with food.
"No, just sit down," Ella instructed with a smile. Sliding out a seat for her, Jason helped her situate herself in a chair and sat next to her.
"Wow, this looks amazing," Hanna said taking the seat on the other side of Aria.
"You have no idea how strict they are in the kitchen," Jason teased with a look as she bent forward to talk with Hanna.
"Are not," Aria protested lightly while cracking a smile from the memory earlier that morning.
Guests all began pulling up seats too and marveling at the food. Mike sat across from Aria, giving her a silent nod saying he was okay.
"That was horrible," Holden joked as the rest of them laughed. Ella had taken a seat at the end of the table while Ashley, and Hanna sat across from each other, then Aria and Mike, Jason and Holden. There were a bunch of other people too, stretching all the way into the family room, but their conversations were more close knit.
"She still likes to do it," Aria pointed out as they talked about Mrs. Strauss's eating corrections.
Leaning in, Holden acted like he was trying to keep a secret between the group of them. "And I still keep gummy bears and real food hidden in my closet."
Laughing again, the bunch of them all began to chuckle.
"Did you ever do that? Ashley asked Ella, thinking to do the no sugar or carbs food.
"Never," Ella replied, shaking her head with a laugh.
"I'd move out if you did that," Mike said lightly.
"Me too," Aria said while diving back into her food.
"If you ever do that I'm staying with Caleb," Hanna declared to her mom who looked like she was thinking about it. Laughter flew around the table again as they ate.
"What about the times you two used to put on fashion shows?" Ella asked Aria and Holden. Smiling at the memory, everyone laughed when Holden groaned and put his head in his hands.
"You used to like it," Aria teased.
"Hey, if I remember correctly, all you wanted to wear wee boys clothes. Your mom had to literally cut the clothes off of you after a week" Holden laughed. Gaping, Aria picked up her bun from her plate and chucked it at him as everyone laughed.
Holden caught it and continued to laugh. "At least I didn't enjoy dressing up like a princess," she taunted to him. Quickly sucking up his laughter, Aria nodded. "Oh I remember when I used to do your makeup and hair. Don't think you can fool me."
Holden playfully narrowed his eyes and ate the dinner bun that was thrown at him.
"You actually used to put on make up?" Hanna asked with a laugh.
"And heels," Aria added before Holden could speak up. The bunch of them all laughed again while Holden sat there cheeks flamed in embarrassment.
"Dude, I miss that," Mike said to Holden as they talked amongst themselves about video games. After a while, conversations began to part and soon, Ella and Ashley were talking, along with Hanna, Jason and Aria.
"Come on, lets get dessert," Aria said pushing her chair back.
"I'll get it," Ella said swiping her napkin from her lap.
"We got it," Hanna stated, motioning for the mother to sit back down. As the three of them pulled out all the baked goods from the kitchen and prepared them to be served, they cracked jokes and teased each other along the way.
"Okay, so you have to sing tonight," Hanna declared.
"Han," Aria groaned back. Over the past month, Jason and her friends had taken the honor to assist Aria in solving her problem of singing in front of others. They made her sing in front of her mom and Mike, around each other's houses and even so far as to going back to the bar Jason showed them for karaoke night again.
"Come on," She pouted with a small stomp to her foot.
"What about dessert?" Aria asked.
"You can sing while they eat. I'm sure Jason will save you a plate for afterward," Hanna said before glancing to Jason who nodded.
"Fine," Aria huffed as Hanna gave her a pouty face. "Go get my guitar."
Cheering to herself, Hanna left the kitchen to go and get the instrument. "I can't believe you planned that with Hanna," Aria stated while shaking her head.
"It wasn't planned per say," he said sneaking his arms around her waist as she put some muffins on a plate.
"Ready?" Hanna asked appearing again.
"Lets go put these out first," Aria said, smiling as Jason gave her a kiss to the head before letting go to help her. Setting out a variety of things out at the middle of the table, Aria watched as people began to pass things around.
"Hey everyone," Hanna called to the guests as Aria pulled up a stool from the kitchen and sat at the way other end of the table which was empty.
"Aria here, is about to sing a for song us. Please eat your food and listen," Hanna proudly introduced. Chuckling, Aria blushed when everyone began turning their attention to her. Moving her fingers to play certain notes, she slowly began to sing [catch me by Demi Lovato]
It was actually an old song she had written a while back when she was crushing on Jason. It was funny to think about now because he was hers. Even her worry washed away when she noticed everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. As she finished playing, everyone clapped and her mom even stood up. As embarrassing as it was, Aria felt that good feeling of accomplishment sweep over her.
"Wow, even Jackie's clapping for you," Hanna murmured when she went to take Aria's guitar. Glancing over, Aria saw that Hanna was right. Both her and Ezra seemed to be happily surprised, clapping like the three didn't have history with each other.
"Thank you," Aria said to the crowd before going back to sit down in her seat next to Jason.
"I can't believe you could sing like that Aria," Ashley said when Aria came back to her seat. Aria blushed again, remembering that it was only Mrs. Hastings who had heard her voice before. "Thanks Mrs. Marin."
"Did you write that yourself?" she wondered.
"Yea, it was a while ago," she nodded.
"Well very well done Aria," Ashley complimented before going back to talk with Ella.
The night came to an end with a smooth success. No more drama occurred or surprises happened; the night ended almost like it was normal for them. Stepping back inside the house after walking out to say goodbye to Jason, Aria shut the door behind her and gave a tired sigh.
"Thank you both for all your help," Ella said walking over to her kids. Embracing them both in a big hug, she kissed their heads and gave a content sigh of her own.
The doorbell rang again, a while later as they were still cleaning up. Curious to whom it was, both kids stopped what they were doing and watched as their mom went to answer the door.
"Greg?" Ella said surprised after opening the back porch door.
"I know, I know, I missed thanksgiving and am totally late," he claimed stepping into the house to bend down and hug his sister. Greg Rose was wearing a nice suit, with a red patterned tie and blue collared shirt. He was about a head taller than his younger (and only) sibling Ella and around 47-years-old. He had black hair, thick eyebrows, a clean shaven face and well built physical stature.
"Hey you guys," Greg said as in the same deep voice Aria and Mike remembered. Dropping the bag in his hand, he went over to hug his niece and nephew.
"I am so sorry I didn't show for dinner," he claimed after saying his hello to the family. "My flight got delayed because of bad weather and my cell phone was dead so I couldn't call…"
"No, its okay," Ella waved off while smiling to her older brother. After shutting the front door, taking his coat and things, the four of them sat around the family room.
"How was your flight? Did you want some leftovers? We have a bunch," Aria offered before grabbing a seat.
Greg chuckled and stared at Aria. "Just like your mom," he noted. Blushing, Aria bowed her head and Ella smiled.
"So, where are Andrea and Jack?" Mike wondered, as they got comfy. Andrea was Greg's wife. She was a little shorter than Ella, had blonde hair, green eyes and a spunky personality. She was always kind and sweet to the Montgomery family along with helpful in the kitchen. Their son Jack was about six years old, with blonde hair and dark brown eyes - like his father and Ella – and had obsession with toy cars.
"Oh they couldn't come this time. Andie is on bed rest till Haley is born and Jack is too much of a handful to bring," he laughed. Greg and his family lived in Kansas, where both adults worked at a law firm. Greg was a criminal district attorney while Andrea was a secretary for the civil law cases.
"When is Andrea due?" Ella wondered.
"A month and a half. She's had me finishing up the new nursery and taking care of Jack."
"And it's a girl for sure?" Aria asked. Greg nodded. "Haley Brooke Rose."
"That's pretty," Ella smiled to her brother as they sat on the couch together.
"So does Jack still like his cars?" Aria smiled. Ella and her family haven't seen Jack since he was younger, maybe when he was 3. Her brother and his family stopped over for Christmas while their new house was being built in Kansas.
"I can't even pry them out of his hands," Greg chuckled. As he stared at Aria, he couldn't believe how old she had gotten. She looked so mature and stunning from the last time he saw her. "You both are so big," he told both his sister's kids. "You guys make me feel old."
"Yea, you look older from when we last saw you too," Mike commented, pulling a serious face. The three of them went wide-eyed at his remark, but it soon turned into laughter when he showed that he was kidding.
"Alight, I'll let that one slide," Greg joked to Mike who was smiling proudly.
"So are you staying for a while?" Ella wondered.
"I was going to grab a hotel near by and maybe stay for the rest of the week? I should be back for Andie and Jack soon though."
"You should stay here," Aria suggested.
"Yea, you should," Mike agreed as the two siblings looked to their mom.
"We do have a spare room," Ella said in a convincing tone.
"Are you sure it wouldn't be too much?" Greg wondered.
"Never," Ella said waving off the comment. Both of her kids cheered about the news. It had been too long since they saw their uncle. It was always too hard or hectic to find a common time to spend moments each other and it put them at a loss.
"So dinner must have been a big hit then?" he asked as the three of them made a plate for Greg.
"You could say that," Aria muttered.
"Uh oh, what happened?" he asked with a serious face.
"Byron's engaged," Ella confessed as she put saran over the plate so it could go in the microwave.
"Mom kicked him out of the house," Mike added.
"Are you okay?" Greg wondered to his sister.
"Of course. I just couldn't believe he did that in front of everyone," Ella responded.
"What do you mean?" Greg wondered.
"He was a little tipsy when he showed up," Aria commented. Greg's eyebrows arched and he stared at his sister. He knew she could be strong and tough, but this was a lot to handle. He knew that she was getting a divorce from him and that her and Byron were having troubles before that, but he worried none the less.
"Really, its not a big deal," she waved off as she faced him.
"The woman is a real bimbo," Mike commented.
"Mike!" Ella scorned as the rest of them gave a chuckle or a smile.
When his dinner was ready, the four of them sat at the kitchen table and talked some more. There was so much catching up to do and chitchat that the family didn't go to bed till four in the morning. It felt peaceful for once in the Montgomery household. Their Uncle's presence made Rosewood just a bit more bearable and free, and Aria fell asleep easily.
A/N: Sooooo? How'd you like the new guy Greg? He's made up by me of course. Ella's brother? Yay or neigh? Hit me up with some feedbackk!