I know this is the shortest chapter I've written so far, but I think it's appropriate. I promise this is not the end. There's still a long way to go. Thanks for reviews! I do not own PLL.

On Good Friday Aria knocked on Ezra's door. He answered and let her in. "I read all your journal entries," she blurted.

Ezra leaned against the door frame. "You were meant to."

"What happens now?" she asked. He grabbed both hands in hers.

"We wait," he responded.

"Wait?" she echoed. She sat down on the sofa and he followed suit. "Is it because you're my teacher?"

"Partly," he answered, "but neither of us is ready to be in such a serious relationship right now."

"I love you," she whispered.

"I know," he caressed her cheek and sighed, "I'm resigning from Rosewood High at the end of the year."

"But you love teaching."

"It's time for me to write my book." He leaned back and she rested her back against his chest. They sat there silently for a while.

"When will we be ready?" she asked him as he rubbed her arm.

"When we don't have to ask that question anymore."

"And in the meantime?"

"I'll be the guy next door." He began to caress her hair.

"We can still hang out though, right?"

He kissed her forehead. "Of course."

"No making out?" she asked wistfully.

He sighed. "Sex isn't something we've really talked about before."

"Who's talking about sex?" Aria asked lightly. Her tone grew more serious. "No we haven't." She paused. "I am the age of consent. Past the age of consent."

"We're not in that place yet, and you know it." He was slightly forceful about it.

"Is it because I'm a virgin?" She asked innocently, but Ezra knew better. It took him a moment to form words.

"Umm," he half laughed half sighed, "I still am your teacher, and I think your dad would skin me alive. And yes, a lot of it is because you're a virgin. You're first time should be meaningful, special."

"We wait?"

"We wait," he confirmed. She leaned up and kissed him full on the mouth. Suddenly, she was straddling him. "This isn't a good idea," he ground out.

"One last time?" She raised an eyebrow as she unzipped her shirt throwing it on the floor. Underneath was a lacy black undershirt. He groaned and nodded as she came near him.

"One more time," he affirmed. Before he knew it she was on top of him and they were having a heated make out session on the couch.

The night of Easter Sunday, Ella and Byron were in their bedroom getting ready to go to sleep. "You okay?" called Ella from the bathroom.

"Yes," answered Byron.

She came out of the bathroom. "That wasn't very convincing."

"You're not worried about this whole Aria/Ezra thing?"

"I take you are?" She leaned against the doorframe.

"A little," he admitted.

"They're going to wait," she answered, "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Yes ,but…"

Ella walked over to him and rubbed his shoulders, "If you start doing that you're going to drive yourself crazy."

He sighed, "I know."

"We raised her to be independent and open minded and we don't get to be surprised that's now who she is."

"But,"

"No buts," shushed Ella. She began to massage his neck. "It's her life, and his."

After that weekend, Aria and Ezra's relationship outwardly began to resemble the one they had before the Montgomerys had left for Iceland. They hung and out and talked about books. They watched old movies together at his house, curtains open of course. She spent a great deal of time reading in the tree house. Ezra took Mike and Aria to Philadelphia semi-regularly. Aria started to spend more time with her friends and less time at home. She became worried about college applications and acceptance letters. But there were still traces of their romantic relationship. Sometimes they still held hands underneath the table. They often cuddled together on the couch when they were watching movies. When Aria was feeling especially daring, she kissed Ezra on the cheek. The time of healing had begun.