Author's Note: In light of recent events (if you watched Tuesday night's episode, you know what I mean) I decided to post earlier than I had originally planned. Just know that this means it might be a little longer between now and the next update. But also know that it is coming.

I hope you enjoy this. I think you will... but I guess we'll see.

Ezra walked through the entrance first, followed closely by Aria, who was holding his hand and keeping her body slightly behind his frame. They walked into the kitchen quietly and Aria could feel the awkwardness thick in the air as conversation stopped mid-sentence.

"Everything okay?" Ella asked. She put her spoon down, her body frozen as she waited for their response.

Byron shifted in his chair, a look of confusion crossing his face as he took in the scene before him. "I thought you were cold, Aria," he said.

Aria's face flushed at Byron's words. He might not have been saying much all night, but he had been watching and listening.

"Mom, Dad, Mike," she trailed off. "We, Ezra and I, we have something we want to tell you."

Ezra squeezed Aria's hand and pulled it across his back so that she was holding his waist. He moved his hand up to her shoulders and pulled her into his side.

As he stood and watched the table, he took in the whole scene. The sun had set a while ago, leaving the apartment in a hazy, evening glow. The fixture overhead cast a good amount of light on the table, but there were still shadows, which naturally seemed to make the faces of the people before him slightly more intimidating. Mike looked excited to hear what they had to say, and Ella looked reluctantly optimistic. He could tell that they both hoped for the best, and they too had known something was coming when they'd been invited over for dinner.

"Byron, Ella," Ezra cut in. He felt Aria relax beside him. "Aria and I could not be more excited about this, so we really hope that you're able to be excited for us. I know that it's not perfect timing, but… we've always been a little unconventional." He looked down and met her eyes; she nodded with a soft smile. Still looking at her, he asked, "should I tell them, or would you like the honor?"

Aria turned and slid her arm out from around Ezra's waist. Smoothing over the material of her shirt, this time so that it would cling to her frame rather than hang loosely in front of her, she made eye contact with Ella and gave her a huge smile.

"We're… having a baby," she said.

Ella let out a gasp of excitement, her hands barely covering the smile that was now shooting across her face. Byron had accidentally dropped his spoon at the announcement, but his face wasn't registering any form of upset – something that gave an immense sense of relief to Ari and Ezra alike.

Aria felt Ezra smooth a hand over her hair and then he pulled her head closer to him, placing a kiss on the crown of her head. She could feel the smile on his lips.

"Congratulations," Ella gushed, pushing out from the table and enveloping her daughter in a hug. She leaned back and held Aria's face in her hands, admiring her daughter while letting reality sink in.

Mike and Byron were both standing now as well, and Aria let out a shaky breath as Byron stuck out his hand toward Ezra.

"Congratulations," he said. His voice was carrying something that Aria couldn't quite place, but the words he spoke seemed heartfelt enough for the time being. "You're going to be a great father."

"Thank you, Byron," Ezra said with sincerity. "I really appreciate it. That means more to me than you could ever know."

"Well, I mean every word," Byron said. He stood back and moved over to give Aria a hug.

"Congratulations, sweet heart," he said, pulling her into his embrace. Aria relaxed into his hold, and for the first time since she could remember, genuinely felt her father's approval. He was a quiet man, and his temper often got the best of him. He and Aria were alike that way.

"I've been so worried about telling you, Dad," she whispered, holding onto his shoulders. "I'm sorry about the timing. I know it'd be better if we were already married and settled down, but we're so excited." She pulled away and Byron held her at arms length. He took in the smile that had completely taken over her face.

"I'm sorry if I've been acting distant lately," he said. "I… I wasn't sure what we were walking into tonight. I just don't want you to miss out on all that life has to offer."

"I'm not, Dad," Aria said with conviction. She looked past Byron at Ezra who was now in a very tender embrace with her mom, a huge grin plastered across his face. Aria looked back to Byron. "I can tell you without any hesitation that this is what I want and that this is not going to hold me back from anything else."

At hearing her words, Ezra joined the private conversation that had been taking place beside him.

"I refuse to let this keep her from having the life she wants – the one she's envisioned. None of this is going to hold us back. We're going to make it through this, together." He gave Aria a gentle smile before turning his gaze to Byron. "I'm going to take care of her, I promise."

"I know you will," Byron said, with sadness in his voice.

Byron stood for a moment more, staring at his daughter. As if no time had passed, she was suddenly three again, running up to him with a piece of crayon-covered paper, the very depiction of beauty and happiness, and his heart was overflowing with pride. In the same breath, she was six with a scraped knee, crying into his shoulder as he held her, twelve with a broken heart, fifteen and struggling with the loss of a close friend… It occurred to him, not for the first time, that his time of being the strong hold in her life was coming to an end.

Yes, he had given Ezra his blessing and he knew that his baby girl was getting married. But seeing her now, knowing that she was going to be a mother herself, it suddenly made Byron realize just how much she had grown up, and just how much Ezra would be stepping into his own shoes, taking over all the responsibility of being there for Aria.

He'd been wondering these past few months if he'd done a good enough job of being a father to her, and he was embarrassed to admit that the answer might not be as good as he hoped, and that he'd been taking this realization out, not only on Ezra, but on his daughter as well.

Byron looked to Ezra, his voice catching in his throat before he even began to speak. "She's all yours now," he said, the words an extension of his prior response.

"How does this family move from being on pins and needles one moment, to complete water works the next," Mike commented.

Aria laughed, grateful to her dad for the unexpected acceptance, and grateful for her brother, for doing exactly what she'd hoped in breaking the tension.

"Trust me," she said to Byron. "Ezra is not going to let me forget about my ambitions and he's been nothing but supportive."

"I just can't believe it," Ella said with a smile. "How far along are you?" She reached out and placed a hand at Aria's waist, the movement tentative, but motherly. "Oh, I am just so excited for both of you." She looked over to her husband. "Bryon, we're going to be grandparents," she said. "I don't feel old enough."

"At least she waited until she was out of high school," Mike said with a laugh.

Aria swatted at his arm. "Hey, here I thought you were going to be the easiest one to tell, and you're over here cracking jokes."

"Funny jokes," he said.

"Not funny jokes," Aria shot back with an angry expression that was extremely for show.

"Face it, that was a little funny," Mike said, looking to Ezra.

Ezra's face dropped a little, paling at Mike's comedic attempt. Byron looked between the two and cut in.

"Watch it, Mike," he said.

"We're in a good place, let's not dredge up the past," Ella threw in, trying to dissipate any potential for awkward tension.

"All right, all jokes aside, you guys are going to be the best parents ever. I'm really excited for both of you," Mike said.

"Thank you," Aria said with sincerity. She moved her hand to her belly, where she'd be itching (quite literally) to place it all evening. Having a protective hand over her baby had become a source of extreme comfort for her. Even if it didn't really do anything. "I'm about thirteen weeks…" she said, looking to Ezra for confirmation. "The doctor estimated a little less than that, but I'm positive it's closer to thirteen."

Mike choked on the drink of water he'd just taken. Ezra slapped him on the back. Aria shot Ezra a look of shock, which quickly turned to a look that promised he was in for it later.

By some miracle, Byron and Ella seemed pointedly aloof. Whether or not they truly hadn't picked up on the implications of Mike's cough, or had simply chosen to ignore it, Aria wasn't sure, but she was thankful nonetheless. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss "extracurricular activities" with her parents and younger brother.

"It will be challenging at first, but you'll both fall into parenting faster than you'd think. This is a big time for you." Ella gave her daughter one more smile before moving into to hug her again.

They all sat and talked for another hour or so. Ezra was still hesitant to accept the fact that Byron's mood had changed so quickly. He wondered if there was something else eating at him. He seemed relieved, but if all he'd been worried about was Aria not getting to experience things, why hadn't he said that earlier on? Ezra had thought that they were finally moving back to that place where they could talk to one another as equals... at least as friends, if not family.

Aria was having the same thoughts, but she decided she didn't care about the reason behind her dad's behavior at the moment. He tended to over complicate things, but she knew from experience: if he had a real problem with something, he'd make that problem known. All she cared about was that she'd finally told her parents about the baby, and at the moment, it didn't look like anyone would be leaving with a black eye or broken bone. In her book, that was an evening well spent.

When it came time for Ella and Byron to go, Mike gathered his things as well.

While Aria was packing up some of the leftovers and a few pieces of pie for Ella to take home, Ezra pulled Byron aside.

"Could I talk to you for a minute?" Ezra asked, motioning for Byron to join him in the other room.

"Sure," Byron said.

The two made their way over to a secluded corner where it'd be less likely for Ella or Aria to overhear them. Ezra gave Mike a reassuring nod that he hoped said, "yes, everything is good."

Ezra took a deep breath.

"Listen," he started. He let his weight balance to one side and braced his hands in front of him, his fingertips pressing against each other. The pressure was the only thing keeping him grounded as his nerves began to work their way over his body. He wondered if the day would ever come where he'd not be nervous to talk to Byron one on one. "I just want to make sure, before you leave tonight, that there are no hard feelings. I meant it when I asked for your blessing, and I mean in now, Byron… I love your daughter. That's not going to change. Since day one, I have tried to put her needs first. I'm not going to let that change. The two of them…" he pushed a hand through his hair and looked over Byron's shoulder at where Aria was talking to her mom, alight with a peace he'd not seen in weeks. "She and our child are the only things that matter to me. Their happiness, their health, their well-being. I hope you know that."

"I do," Byron said. He took in the young man before him and weighed how vocal he should be about the things that had been running through his head that evening. Ezra was going to be his son in a few months, and already, he was the father of his grandchild. He deserved to be spoken to candidly. "I'm sorry if I've made you feel on edge. I… I've been having a harder time than I expected, letting her go. It has nothing to do with you."

"Are you sure?" Ezra asked, skeptical of what he was being told. For a moment he wished he could retract the snappiness in his voice, but as the space between them continued, he felt that what was said was necessary for progress. Byron opened and closed his mouth once before actually speaking.

"Yes. I think after all these years we should be able to put the past behind us, don't you?"

"I'd like to," Ezra said. "I don't want to forget all the good that came from those years, but I'd like to think we can move past it."

"I'd like that too." Byron stood awkwardly for a moment, not sure what else to say, while at the same time, knowing exactly what should be said. He took in a deep breath. "She's my baby girl, Ezra. Some day, possibly quite soon, you'll know exactly what I mean."

"I think I already do," Ezra said, eyes still on Aria. "I can't imagine how I'd react if our baby had to go through half the things Aria has. And I know... I know I've been part of the trouble."

"No," Byron said, cutting him off. "No, Ezra, you've been just about the only thing helping her make it through. In many ways, you were there for her when her mother and I weren't, and for that, I'm grateful."

"Byron," Ella called from the kitchen. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes," Byron said, turning to look at his wife.

He turned back to Ezra, his hands on his hips. He jutted one out in front of him, offering a handshake. "I trust you know I'll let you know if I think you're not doing the job justice."

Ezra reached out and met Byron with an equally tight grip. "I'd expect nothing less," he said with a smile. "But I promise you, she's in good hands."

"I know," Byron said, pulling Ezra into a hug.

Outwardly, Ezra's mood had brightened. Byron was small, and seemed harmless; their conversation had been incredibly freeing. But, regardless of size or stature, Byron still scared the shit out of Ezra.

Only minutes passed before all three of the Montgomery's had walked out the door, leaving Aria and Ezra alone in the now too-quiet apartment.

Aria sighed, closing the door behind her with a click of the lock. She slid the chain into place and rested her head against the cool door.

"I thought that went fairly well," Ezra said from somewhere behind her. "How do you feel?"

Aria turned so that it was the back of her head resting against the door rather than her forehead.

"I feel exhausted," she said. "Completely drained of all energy."

"You haven't gotten sick in…" Ezra looked over to the clock on the oven, "almost two hours. That's a new record I think."

"That's the miracle of the second trimester," she said, pushing off the door and making her way over to Ezra. "Or maybe that's the miracle of having the truth out in the open." She hooked her arms around his neck and leaned back so that the small jut of her belly was pressing into his waist. Her shoulders were pulled back in a way that made looking at him a little easier.

"What are you doing?" he said, suspiciously.

"Nothing," Aria said. Her eyes narrowed, silently flirting with him. "Trying to boost my energy level so we can pick up where we left off."

Before she could say another word, Ezra leaned down and pulled her to him at the waist, snaking his hand up her back so that it was pressed firmly between her shoulder blades. He twisted her with fervor so that she was pinned between him and the counter and pushed himself into her. The light moan of gratification that escaped her lips sent warmth through his veins.

Aria leaned into the kiss, the weight of having told her family after weeks of agonizing over it gave her a new sense of freedom. Plus, having had to cut their make out session short earlier had her a little pent up all through dinner. Even though she was dead tired, her body still ached for Ezra's touch. She wasn't sure that the pregnancy hormones were even to blame. This was simply good, old fashioned longing.

Exactly the kind of longing that had gotten them into their current situation.

Ezra let his hands roam over Aria's body, appreciating every curve. He was finding it increasingly hard to keep from taking her right there on the kitchen floor. He let his hands drift down to her waist, and then let them go further. Cupping her thighs, he hoisted her up and placed her on top of the counter.

"I love you," he said as he leaned in to give her neck attention. His voice was husky, and the stubble on his jaw was rough.

There was no gentleness about the way he was kissing her now. She threw her head back and to the side, exposing her neck to him, silently begging him to keep going. With her feeling sick so often, it had been a while since they'd really gone at it like this and Ezra was feeling the need to take her more and more with each second that ticked by.

He let his fingers find the hem of her shirt, and swiftly pulled it over her head, diving right back in to give her chest attention as soon as the offending article was on the floor.

"Ezra," Aria breathed, her voice catching as he began to suck on the sensitive spot above her collarbone. She was tugging at his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against her own. "Ezra," she tried again.

"Hmm?" He wasn't really listening. His hands were lovingly moving all over her back and waist, feeling every inch of her as he made a small bruise on her collarbone.

"Lift your arms," she said. Now Aria's voice had grown husky, dry with euphoria, and Ezra felt a tug behind his navel. He did as he was told – pulling the shirt over his head and tossing it with hers on the floor. While he was detached from her, he went a step further and undid the button of her pants, holding eye contact with her the whole time. He pulled the material apart, making as much room in the waist as he could before moving forward between her legs again and holding on to her back.

"God, that feels so much better," she said with a sigh of relief. "I need to go shopping." She leaned in and began to kiss his ear, the space behind it, a trail down his neck…

"Hold on," he said, lifting her off the counter slightly with one arm, bracing her body against his own. With the other hand, he tugged at the pant material, being the furthest thing from careful as he pulled them from her body. When she was down to just her underwear, he dove back in with full force.

He let his hands roam over her thighs, feeling her smooth skin as he trailed down her leg. He cupped his hands behind her knees, bringing her forward so that she was at the very edge, and as close to him as possible. She ached to feel the hardness between his legs but their positioning was off, just barely. All this did was egg her on. They had found over time that the build up, the foreplay, was almost just as gratifying for Aria as the actual contact; especially since she'd gotten pregnant.

She hated to think about how that had played a role in their whole student-teacher escapade. Whatever. None of that mattered right now.

Aria loved the way he felt against her – even if the only contact she got was his hand on her back. There wasn't anything like it.

Naturally, as he peppered kisses across her skin, her body felt like it was on fire.

Sensing that what he was doing was working, Ezra decided to be a little bolder. They'd been fairly tame in the past, but the counter always seemed to bring new passion to their romance, in one way or another. Whether it was due to the extra height it gave her, or to the fact that it gave a nod to their first encounter, he wasn't sure. But he was fairly certain that this counter had been the culprit in making the baby Aria was currently carrying.

He loved it. It was appropriate for their relationship that the first baby they conceived together would be instigated by a counter top.

With each breathy moan that escaped Aria's throat, Ezra inched his way further down her body.

Aria was now painfully pent up and Ezra knew it. He smiled as he let his mouth move lower on her waist. He took one finger and let is trail beneath the elastic of her underwear, pulling it back at the waist just a little, so that he could plant kisses in its wake. He loved the way her body was changing to make room for the life growing inside, and he loved even more knowing that he had helped create that life. In many ways, he felt more tied to her now than he would if they'd simply gotten married. Literally sharing a life with someone had the power to change how you related to them.

Gently, he tugged down the material, until she was nothing but skin on the counter. Her hands dove into his hair the second his mouth reattached to her skin.

"Ezra," she breathed heavily. "Please."

"Be patient," he said against her. Her breath hitched at the vibration of his voice and he chose that moment to redirect his attention. He took her legs again and wrapped them around his waist once more, just about bringing her off the counter.

He kissed her hungrily. Aria's hands were roaming all over this shoulders. He moved from kissing her lips to the sensitive spot on her neck, staying there as she began to breathe heavier and heavier. She arched her back into him and he let his hands trail down to her hips.

"Oh, god, Ezra," she whispered.

He laughed a little into her.

At feeling his smile against her skin, she pulled back and placed each of her hands on his chest, giving him the gentlest of pushes backward. She wanted to look at him in the hazy glow of what was finally, truly their kitchen.

He'd aged over the years. He had a little bit of grey on the sides. As Aria took this in and felt her heart swell at the thought of it, she knew that in some way, the way they were together now was different from how they'd been together when they were younger. She didn't spend long comparing the two times, but the severity of what they were to each other now made this all the more special.

And all the more gratifying.

Ezra could see in Aria's eyes that this was going to be a long night, a good night, and the first of many. They had only been kissing for maybe ten minutes and already, their bodies were close to spent, covered in sweat, and sticky with eagerness. Ezra leaned down and planted light kisses across her skin, putting the hunger in his heart off until they were behind a closed door. Not that he couldn't take her on the counter… but something made him feel like tonight, she deserved a little more. Her arms were loose around his neck and she was smiling with a lazy look about her.

"You're beautiful," he said between kisses.

"You're pretty beautiful yourself," she said, pushing his hair back. She leaned in and let her teeth rake the edge of his ear as she whispered, "take me to bed?"

"I'd be happy to," he replied.

With that, Ezra picked Aria up, letting her wrap her legs around his waist a little tighter, and carried her up to their bedroom. All of her clothes were still scattered on the floor and there were still plenty of dishes to be cleaned up from dinner, but that could wait.

Aria thought she might have more than one round in her somewhere, and she was willing to bet that, with the right coaxing, Ezra could make it through a few rounds as well.

The kitchen could wait until morning, and Aria made that clear as she flipped off the switch on their way out of the room.

Author's Note: Hmm... so this was a little bit different for me :) I'll start by saying: that's about as explicit as I'll get. There might be more scenes like it down the road (wink, wink) but I doubt they'll get more graphic than that. Hopefully it's a happy medium. I'm not a smut writer, but I do like it to get a little steamy now and then, if the situation lends itself.

What did you think of Byron? How do you feel about Ezra and Mike being friends?

What are some things you'd like to see in future chapters? Remember that from here on out, I'll be writing as I go... so be patient and leave a review! Even if you don't have much to say, it's nice knowing that you enjoyed it enough to say so.

Thanks for reading!