Chapter 9:

"hey hun. How did things go?" Aria asked, looking up from her laptop when she heard the front door.

"Umm...it could have been worse, I guess." Ezra replied.

Aria put her laptop on the coffee table and got up. She walked over to Ezra and put her hand on his back, comfortingly. "Want to talk about it?" she asked.

"Maggie was a mess when I got there. It turns out, my dear mother couldn't wait to get the news out and she told Maggie that she has to be gone by tomorrow morning."

"Oh my God. That's horrible!" Aria said sincerely. She knew what it was like being on Mrs. Fitzgerald's bad side and, even though she wasn't Maggie's biggest fan, she felt for her.

"Yeah. She was hysterical when I got there. And my mom was just standing over her, watching her pack with this smug expression. I can't believe I'm related to that woman!" Ezra said angrily.

Aria rubbed his back, trying to calm him. "Hey, at least Maggie isn't alone in all of this. She has you, and Malcolm and, if she needs me, I'm willing to help out too." she said, smiling.

Ezra looked at her, surprised. "Really?"

Aria nodded. "Really."

Ezra smiled at her. "You are honestly the best thing to ever happen to me." he said, looking her in the eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her softly.

When they broke apart, Aria asked. "So is she coming tonight?"

"Yeah, but she insists on staying in a hotel. So she's getting settled there right now so Malcolm's probably going to be staying here a few hours longer than planned." he said, gesturing to the little boy, who was fast asleep on his bed, snoring softly. "Do you think you could watch him for just a little while longer? Maggie's car was too small to fit everything so some of the stuff is in my car and I have to drop it off." Ezra asked, his eyes pleading with hers to say yes.

Aria bit her lip. She had been planning on going to Spencer's in a bit. But she could reschedule. She doubted the girls would mind her being a little late "Sure, he's asleep anyway so I'll just work on my assignment for English." she said, gesturing to her laptop.

"Thanks! Love you!" Ezra said, kissing her forehead as he headed for the door.

"You too." Aria called back, just before the door closed. With that, she sat back down with her laptop and started working.

LATER:

"Aria?"

"Mmm?" Aria opened her eyes, seeing Malcolm standing over her.

"Where's my mom and dad?" he asked.

Aria sat up. She had fallen asleep on the couch, laptop still sitting on her lap. The time on her laptop screen read 11:00pm.

"Your dad came while you were asleep. He said that he and you mom had some work to do before coming home, so they'd be late. Don't worry, they'll be home soon." Aria said, reassuringly.

"I miss my mommy." Malcolm said. "I never go to bed without saying goodnight to her or daddy. She always tucks me in and reads me a story.

Aria bit her lip in though. "Well...okay, how about this. We can call you mom and dad and you can say goodnight to them. Then, I'll tuck you in and read you a story. How's that sound?"

Malcolm thought for a moment before nodding. "Okay."

Aria dialed Ezra's number and handed the phone to Malcolm. After a moment, Ezra picked up and the little boy talked to him, and then to his mother. Aria went to pick out a book for him while he talked.

"Goodnight mommy." she heard him say as she picked out a Robert Munsch book.

"All set?" she asked him when he came and gave her the phone before lying down. He nodded.

"Okay! Well, how about we read this?" Aria asked, holding the book up for him.

"I love that book!" Malcolm said smiling.

Aria started to read, but before she could get very far Malcolm stopped her.

"Aria?"

"Yeah?"

"Does my dad know about Mitchell?" he asked.

Aria shook her head. "Not yet. I was going to tell him but I thought that he should hear it from you."

"I'm scared." Malcolm said.

"Why are you scared?" Aria asked. It killed her to see the fear in his brown eyes, which were identical to Ezra's.

"Because I don't want Mitchell to beat me up. He said if I tell on him, he will." Malcolm said, a tear falling down his face."

"Don't worry sweetie, Mitchell won't hurt you. We're going to talk to the principal and she'll make sure Mitchell doesn't lay a finger on you, okay?"Aria assured him, wiping his tears away.

Malcolm nodded. "Will you be with me when I tell my dad?"

"Only if you want me to." Aria said.

Malcolm nodded. "Yes please."

"Okay. But he's coming home late and you have to go to sleep. I'll pick you up from school tomorrow, so just come straight to the car when you get off school. Then, tomorrow we can tell your dad what's going on, okay?" Aria said.

"Okay. Thanks Aria." Malcolm said, kissing her cheek.

Aria smiled and ruffled his hair. "No problem. Goodnight!" she said, smoothing his hair repeatedly as he slowly drifted off to sleep.

When she was sure Malcolm was asleep, Aria went to sit back down on the couch to watch TV when the door opened, and an exhausted Ezra walked through the door.

"Hey honey." Aria said, standing on her tiptoes and giving him a kiss.

"Hey." Ezra replied, smiling.

"You look like you could use some rest." Aria said gently, grabbing his coat from him and hanging it up.

Ezra nodded. "I'm exhausted. You'd be surprised how much stuff Maggie and Malcolm have. I think I gained some serious muscle from that." he said, flexing his arms, smiling that boyish smile that made Aria's heart race.

Aria poked his stomach. "Nope, you're still fat." she said, giggling.

"Excuse me?" Ezra said, pretending to be hurt as he lifted his shirt, making sure he still had abs.

"You heard me." Aria said, raising her eyebrows. "I could probably beat you in a fight!"

"You take that back!" Ezra said, pretending to be really upset.

"And if I don't?" Aria giggled.

Ezra lunged and tackled her to the couch. He pinned her arms down and sat on her legs. "You were saying?"

"Ow, Ezra! You're hurting my legs!" Aria cried. Ezra immediately got up and started apologizing.

Aria smirked and jumped onto his back. "Who's winning now?"

"No fair!" Ezra cried. "Cheater!"

"All's fair in love and war." Aria quoted with a laugh.

"Oh really?" Ezra chuckled. He stopped trying to get Aria off his back and, instead sat on the couch so she was squashed between his back and the couch.

"Evgwa!" Aria shrieked, her voice muffled from the couch.

Ezra chuckled. "I'll let you go if you admit that I'm strong and have rock-hard abs."

"Nweweh" Aria said.

"Well then, I guess we're going to have to stay like this. I'm comfy, are you?" Ezra teased.

"Fwih. Yow sgwogh ng gwal wogh hab ags" Aria said.

Ezra moved forward a little so she could talk properly. "What was that?"

He knew Aria was rolling her eyes at him as she sighed and said. "You're stong and have rock-hard abs. Now LET ME GO!" she said.

"Gladly!" Ezra said, getting off her.

"I can't believe you did that to me!" Aria said, pouting.

Ezra leaned forward so their faces were inches apart. "All's fair in love and war." he said, before closing the distance between them. Aria wrapped her arms around his neck and Ezra put his hands on her waist as their lips met in a passionate kiss.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Don't forget to review :)