I know this chapter is shorter then what I had posted in the first two chapters but I thought I'd just give you a filler chapter to what's coming next.

On another note:

I can't express on how much great reviews I have been getting and how happy that makes me. Right now, I feel like this is one of my better stories and so far I like how it's going. But like I said in the last chapter if you want to see something happen let me know. Even though I have the next few chapter written and typed I will try and fit it in there. I don't want to write something that no one is interested in.

I have nothing to do with Pretty Little liars. #ezriaforever!

"Thank you so much for doing this on such short notice," Aria said hugging Toby, "How have you been?"

Toby chuckled pulling away, "Really good. Thanks to your business up in Aspen, it had really set my name in stone. Sort of speak."

Aria smiled, it had been a good three years since her last talk to Toby. He had helped her with the new renovations when she was sent to Aspen for six months and she couldn't have been more than thankful, "So how's Stacy?"

Toby smiled widely, "She's great, and actually we're getting married." Aria opened her mouth into an 'O' shape, "I know right!"

"I can't believe it." Aria pushed him playfully, "I can't believe your marring my assistant."

Toby nodded, "I can't believe that you didn't know. She said she left you a bunch of messages."

Aria shrugged, "I never got them. I just got back from London, and I never checked anything yet." There was a short pause before Aria spoke again, "Have you talked to Spencer?"

"Aria," Toby said shaking his head, "You know we lost all contact and I'm happy now. I like where I am in life and I like that business is booming."

"Right," Aria lifted her eyebrows, "I'm sorry. I just miss the girls so much and sometimes I wonder what they're doing every day."

"Why don't you call them? I'm sure they miss you just as much."

Toby followed Aria as she walked into one of the rooms on the 10th floor, "its hard being back here you know. After everything that happened I feel like I'm going backwards. I feel like I'm falling apart and that this wall I built around me is breaking."

"Aria, I know what that wall looks like. Believe me I've had it, but what you need to do is make peace with your demons. You need to talk to Ezra and tell him that you still love him." Aria looked at Toby in shock, "Oh come on." He chuckled, "I know that's the real reason why you didn't want to come back to this place. It wasn't because of '-A' it wasn't because you just had to stay away. It was because you couldn't face him after you left. "

Aria nodded, "This is the master key to all the rooms; Make sure that you give it back just like Aspen. I have some paperwork that needs to be done and if you need anything just let me or Carol know and-"

"Aria," Toby cut her off, "I know the drill and you have already gave me my list so my team and I are good to go." He rolled his eyes, "You're avoiding what I said."

Aria sucked in a deep breath, "I can't deal with it right now. I have so much to do between now and the re-grand opening. Do you think your team can check out the pool deck and the tennis courts?" Toby nodded, "Thank you again for coming."

"Of course, so I'll call the team and we should be able to get started around noon."

Aria looked around the room again, "Sounds good."

LINE BREAK

Malcolm came down from the first floor after helping out a couple with their bags apparently their flight was delayed and they only just got in, Usually he works as a valet but today with all the call outs he was put on as a bell hop.

"Ms Montgomery may I have a word with you?" Malcolm asked as he saw Aria approaching the front lobby. He picked up his booklet that was behind the desk and walked over to her.

"Sure Mr Cutler what can I do you for?" Aria said looking up from her stack of books.

"In your office" He pointed behind her and took some of the weight off of her hands

"Thank you!" Aria nodded and opened the door to her office and closed it behind her, "So what can I do you for?"

Malcolm sucked in a shaky breath as he placed the books down and sat down in one of the chairs, "This is for you. I read over everything and signed all piece of document." He handed over the booklet.

"Thank you Mr Cutler" Aria smiled and took it from him, "How long have you been working here?" She asked politely

"Almost a year" he answered, "My dad and I have this thing where he pays off my insurance and I have to pay off my car payments." Malcolm laughed

"Very noble of him. I'm sure he is just teaching you the value of a dollar and how to use it wisely. "Aria smiled again, "Where do you see yourself in the next five years?" Aria asked as she wrote down a few notes.

Malcolm shrugged a little, "Hopefully finishing College and teaching. I want to become a teacher and use that ability to help young children. I want to teach grade school."

Aria looked up from her note pad and nodded, "Very interesting, and what about your mother and father what do they do?"

Malcolm licked his lips feeling a little uncomfortable, "Well, my mother married and she is now living in god knows what. We really don't talk since she signed full custody over to my dad. He works at Rosewood High as an English AP teacher." He never blinked an eye and neither did Aria, "Do you remember me Aria?"

"Excuse me?" Aria asked in shock and Malcolm took out his wallet and showed her a picture of him and her when he was seven years old. It was a picture that Ezra had taken when they were waiting on take out to arrive. It was a few weeks before she and Ezra broke up. "Where did you get this?" She asked taking the printed picture from him.

"I'm Ezra's son Malcolm." He answered, "I never forgot you!" he smiled, "I wondered what happened to you. I wondered for so many years if it was me that broke up your relationship with my dad and I wondered if I was to ever see you again if you were going to look like that woman in the picture and if I was going to be able to recognize you." Malcolm rubbed his arm, "My dad was never the same after you left. He still wears that engagement ring over his neck and sometimes I would catch him talking to your picture."

Aria looked up at Malcolm with watery eyes, "Why are you telling me this?"

Malcolm shrugged, "When I first saw you I thought maybe this was a sign. Aria, you and my dad were made for each other and maybe if you two would talk again-"

Aria shook her head while handing the picture back and saying, "I tried last night it didn't work. Your dad is really mad at me and there is nothing I can do about it. Ezra just has to get over me and realize that I'm happy now. He needs to find someone who will make him happy just like I have. I'm sorry Malcolm but I don't know what you expected me to do." Aria stood up, "You better get back to work." She pointed to the door.

Malcolm nodded and stood up to open the door when Aria called for him, "I don't know what your dad has told you about me. Or about the reason why I left; But I did love him with all my heart and he was the one who told me to never come back."

"But you did and you're here." Malcolm retorted, "I just want my dad back," he stated and turned to face her once again, "Do you remember the time that I had fell off my dad's bed?" Aria nodded, "How you held me close to you and said that everything is going to be okay and you just held me till I stopped crying?"

"Yeah," Aria nodded, "What about it?"

"Where is that girl? The caring and understanding girl that my father and I love? Aria you were more like a mom to me than anything."

"But I'm not your mom, I am your boss and I need you to get back to work."

LINE BREAK

Aria went home at five and plopped down on the couch. It wasn't really her home considering that she was in Jay's house with only a few of her stuff around. It was more like Jay and Lacy's things cluttering the small three bedroom average house.

"Mommy," Lacy said running into the living room, "When did you get home?"

"Just now," Aria said annoyed, "Where's Jay?"

"In the room, he wanted to grade a few homework papers." Aria nodded, "Can I play basketball?"

"What?" Aria looked at her in shock, "You want to play sports?"

"Yes, mom there is this summer program that the school is offering. I don't want to go back to New York with Grandma Ella and have to go back to Ms Parker; I want to stay here with you and Jay."

Aria closed her eyes, "Let me think about it."

"Actually Peterson academy is open for applications next year and I have already placed her in their program." Jay said coming out of the room.

"And you never thought to tell me about this?" Aria rubbed her temples, "This is my daughter and I would like to actually take part in her academics."

Jay shook his head and headed into the kitchen. Aria looked over at him and let out a heavy sigh. After a long day right now she just wanted to sleep, she didn't want to have to deal with this drama of hearing Jay telling her that she's not properly taking care of her daughter.

"Lacy sweetie, do you want to come with me tomorrow?" I asked taking out my phone and checking my emails.

"Where?"

"The gym, I thought maybe we could work out for a few hours."

Lacy shushed up her face, "No, I want to play basketball, please! I promise to behave and I promise that I will try my best. I just don't want to study so much anymore and Remember Tammy?" Aria nodded, "She's going to public school that's what she said. Mom," She whine, "Can I?"

Aria scratched my head, "Okay, how about this." She leant forward, "I will think about it and then I will let you know before you go back to New York."

"Promise," She held up her pinkie

"I promise,"

LINE BREAK

The following morning Aria woke up before Jay and Lacy, she wanted to get a head start on the day seeing as she was yet alone facing the world. The only reason she sees it that way is because she can't tell Jay that his best friend is the reason why she's so closed up, and the reason why she can't even look into Lacy eyes.

After taking a much needed shower Aria dressed simple, a pair of black leggings and a plain white top her heels and her jacket to cover up.

Aria looked into the guess room and watched her daughter's chest raise and fall as she slept peacefully and listened to the soft snores that came from it. She realized over the years when Lacy would stay with her that this is the only moment where Aria felt like a real mother. When she felt like she was at peace with what happened in the past and could finally face her fears with Lacy. Aria loved to watch her daughter sleep and she loved to listen to her talk.

Aria smiled and closed the door to the room before walking into the kitchen and grabbing the keys to Jay's car. It's only a Saturday and he wouldn't be needing it or she figured why not.

Aria opened up her folder that contain the address that she wanted to head to at six in the morning and took in a breath trying to claim her nerves. She didn't know why she was doing this and she didn't know what she was going to say. But she felt like this was the only way for them to get closure. For both of them to fully move on and if it helps, then maybe they could be friends.

After driving around the old neighborhood Aria pulled up to the house that had Malcolm's address written in plain blank ink. She smiled thinking this was similar to the house that she and Ezra were talking about when they thought about moving in with one another. But then again that was before Malcolm came into the picture.

She took off her seat belt and grabbed her bag and phone before getting out of the car and headed to the front door. She knocked a couple of times and finally Malcolm opened the door.

"I'm sorry did I wake you?" Aria asked quickly, "I never meant to come so early, but I still have to get to work-"

"It's fine, I was just going to the gym" Malcolm cut her off, "Want to come in?" Aria nodded and looked around the house. You could tell there wasn't any spark to it. Dark curtains covered the windows the couch had books and men's magazines all over it. Dishes and take out boxes where all over the coffee table "I'm sorry about the mess, "Malcolm said picking up a few things

"It's fine Malcolm I have seen worse," She laughed

Malcolm nodded, "So what are you doing here?"

Aria shrugged, "I'm sorry about yesterday, you tried to open up to me and I just shut you down, " Malcolm opened his mouth to speak but shut it when Aria shook her head "I didn't mean it and I came here to offer my help!"

Malcolm smiled, "Ms Montgomery, you don't know how much that means to me."

"Call me Aria, when we aren't at work." She smiled, "I know what it feels like to be shut off from the world- especially your father, so I will try my best to make Ezra come around."

Malcolm nodded, "Is there anything I can do?"

Aria nodded, "You can go to the gym and I'll call one of the maid's to come and clean this place up while I take your dad out for some fresh air." She gestured around the room, "It will be on me."

Malcolm laughed, "It was clean." He said picking up his gym bag and heading over toward the door, "When we moved in." He joked, "I will see you at work."

"Bye Malcolm" Aria laughed

So here is a question for you...

What do you think Aria is up to with Ezra? And will her plan help him?

Just to let you know I like how the next chapter ended up.