I tried REALLY hard to get this posted Friday night, I promise, but our cable and internet got shut off by the time I finished. Then it got turned back on Saturday, but I wasn't home. Seeing as I'm such a party animal and everything. Har har, just kidding. I didn't get home until yesterday afternoon and honestly, I just forgot to update. But, here it is finally! It's still less than a week between updates, that has to count for something right?

First through third period went by in a complete haze. She had second period with Emily, but they sat at opposite corners of the room and Aria didn't have the guts to catch the other girl's eye. If she just pretended that nothing was wrong, she convinced herself, then Emily would be none the wiser. Her classes were boring for the most part, though she suspected that mostly had to do with the fact that she wasn't paying much attention to anything anyone was saying. She didn't pay attention to anything at all until she got to Ezra's classroom fourth period and saw that he wasn't there. In his place were two security guards.

After the bell rang and everyone was seated, Aria could feel her body beginning to cover itself in gooseflesh. The students were all looking at one another, no one quite sure what was going on. The tension was thick in the air and it was suffocating.

"Where's Mr. Fitz?" Spencer asked, clearly agitated that they couldn't begin their lesson. Typical Spencer Hastings; pissed about not being able to do schoolwork. "We're supposed to be doing presentations today."

"Mr. Fitz is speaking with the principal." The taller of the guards said irritably. "There have been accusations of an inappropriate student-teacher relationship and we're here to get to the bottom of this."

"Each of you will be called to the Principal individually to answer some questions." The second man answered, arms folded over his chest. "Lauren Adams?"

One by one the students were called out of the classroom. None were gone for more than about two minutes, not possibly long enough to answer any questions. Beads of sweat began to form on Aria's hairline and she could feel her palms become clammier by the second.

"Hanna Marin." Aria's stomach dropped. She hadn't thought about the comments Hanna had made about her being 'hot for teacher'. Hanna's one minute with the principal honestly felt as though it went by the slowest. Aria could just imagine her mentioning the fact that she thought she and Ezra were 'crushing' on one another. It wasn't as if she had been so shy to voice that opinion any other time. When Hanna returned to the room and was unable to meet Aria's eye, she knew something was amiss.

"Aria Montgomery." Slowly, agonizingly slowly, she felt herself rising from her seat,slinging her bag over her shoulder and tip toeing towards the door. She could tell that her lack of speed was grating the guards' nerves, but she felt like she was treading through quicksand and was terrified of being eaten alive. Almost as if on cue, her phone began to ring. She knew what that meant. She considered ignoring the message, but ultimately her curiosity got the better of her.

Better fess up, Aria, no one likes a liar. You can tell the truth, or I will. Xoxo –A.

When she made it to the office, there were two police officers present. One she didn't recognize, and the other she had met on a few different occasions.

"Aria," Detective Wilden greeted in a menacing tone. "We need you to step inside." When she did, Aria was completely floored by what she found. There, with Ezra, Principal Williams, and one more police officer, sat Jenna Marshall. Blind Jenna. The Jenna she and her friends had made blind three years ago. Detective Wilden closed the door behind them and led Aria to a sear directly across from Jenna.

"Miss Marshall overheard a very intimate conversation between Mr. Fitz and a student and we're attempting to find out who that student is by voice." The third officer explained, handing a small notepad to Aria as she felt her body begin to quiver. "We're going to ask you to read a couple of phrases, see if Miss Marshall recognizes anything familiar about anyone's voice."

Aria knew better than to look at Ezra's face, but she had absolutely no doubt that it was completely colorless and filled with horror. She felt as though she might get sick right then and there.

"Aria?" Wilden said impatiently. "We need you to read those lines, we have to get to seven other students after you before the period is up."

"I-uh." Aria slowly grazed her eyes across the lines that had been written on the page. She had said those words all of four hours ago. Ezra had just told her that he wanted the two of them to be a "we", he wanted to make things work between them. She had spent fifty percentage of the day avoiding the girls and the other fifty percent reminding herself not be caught smiling at nothing over his confession. The only thing she cared about right now was protecting Ezra.

"The student was me," She said, looking Wilden directly in the eye. "But you need to understand the context of this conversation. There is nothing inappropriate going on here."

"Oh, really?" Wilden leaned over the principal's desk, his weight resting on his palms. "What context would that be, hm? Because this conversation seems a lot more than inappropriate to me."

"Mr. Fitz is a great teacher." Aria began. She could see out of the corner of his eyes that he was absolutely petrified, his face becoming more green in tone. "He allows us to come to him with personal problems when we have no where else to go and there are certain things I can't talk to my parents about."

"That's what guidance counselors are for." Wilden countered, only to have Principal Williams quiet him with a simple hand gesture.

"Yes, well, what I've confided in Mr. Fitz about isn't exactly her business." Aria retorted with just a hint of snark in her voice. Suddenly it occurred to her exactly how she could turn the situation around. "It wouldn't even be his business, except that it's something I wrote about in a short story and he asked if the story had any personal meaning."

"And what exactly is this supposed story about, Miss Montgomery?" the principal finally spoke. She could see that he was skeptical, that he probably thought she was lying about the existence of such a story.

"It's about my son and the fact that my parents are pretending that they are his parents so I can be 'normal'." Aria said evenly, with a certain conviction in her voice that brought everyone to a stand still. Jenna gave an audible gasp, but other than that the room was silent. "I have the story right here in my school notebook if you'd like to read it, and I have a copy of Elliot's birth certificate at home. When I asked Mr. Fitz to look over my story a few weeks ago, he asked and I didn't want to lie."

"Well then what is this that Jenna overheard about Spencer?" Wilden was bound and determined to make her guilty. "It sounds to me like she found out about your relationship with Mr. Fitz, here."

"Spencer helps me with my Pre-Calculus homework." Aria said uneasily. She wasn't sure what Spencer had said when they'd called her in earlier, and she knew she couldn't ask. At least this part she didn't need to make up. "What she 'found out' about was the truth about Elliot. My mom asked us to watch him while she picked up dinner and Spencer heard him call my mother 'nana' instead of 'mom'; that's what she found out."

"Why did Mr. Fitz refer to this as a 'we' situation?" Principal Williams questioned. He seemed much less cynical, but Aria knew she couldn't be too careful.

"Honestly, I don't know. Bad choice of words? Maybe if Jenna here told the whole story she would have mentioned that I even questioned him when he said that." Aria finally took a chance and looked directly at Ezra for just a second. He looked relieved and it lifted the weight that had been pressed against her chest. "He's always made us students feel like we can tell him anything, and I trusted him with my secret. My parents… they're too ashamed of my life choices to tell anyone that I had a baby. So I promised I wouldn't tell anyone. Like I said, if Jenna had heard the rest of the conversation, Mr. Fitz went on to say that he'd be there for me if and when I decide to tell people about Elliot and that he could talk to my parents at the parent-teacher conferences if it were necessary. Other than that, there is no 'we' here, Officer."

"Detective." She was corrected and she wanted so desperately to just roll her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Detective. This is Mr. Fitz's first teaching job. I think he was just trying to get his students to like him. This is all being completely blown out of proportion. It's all a big misunderstanding." Aria looked directly at Jenna when she spoke again. "And I certainly hope that my personal business doesn't leave this room, because it is not the entire student population's concern that I had a child at fourteen and a half. I confided in Mr. Fitz because I needed to speak with an adult that I trust about the situation, since I cannot speak to my parents. Is that not what teachers are supposed to do? Provide a safe place at school if we don't feel safe at home?"

Jenna looked down and Aria could see the look of shame on her face despite the glasses that covered her entire eye area. Aria felt guilty for putting all of this blame on Jenna. Of course their conversation hadn't sounded completely innocent, and of course someone overheard it for exactly what it was, as opposed to what she was trying to convince Detective Wilden of.

"Let me see this story you say you wrote about this son you say you have." Aria became furious at Wilden's audacity. How dare he say that she was lying? Granted, Ezra really hadn't seen the story she'd written, but why would she lie about having a baby? Digging through her bag, she pulled out her notebook and flipped through the appropriate page.

"There is my story." She said matter-of-factly. After Wilden took the book and began to scan the pages, she searched her bag for a different notebook – her journal. Opening the journal to the last page that she had written on, she removed a photograph of she and Elliot at the zoo – ironically enough, a photo that had been taken by Ezra – and offered it to Principal Williams. "And that is my son."

It was clear that both the principal and the officers were taken aback by her and Elliot's absolutely uncanny resemblance.

"As you know, my family and I moved to Iceland just before the start of my freshman year." Aria glared at Wilden. He'd gathered this information from her earlier while pursuing the investigation of Ali's murder. "I was already two and a half months pregnant when we left. He was born March 3rd, 2009 at 1:19 in the morning in Reykjavik. Like I said, I have a copy of his birth certificate at home if you're interested in seeing it."

"Have you seen this story, Fitz?" Wilden shoved the notebook into Ezra's hands and he chanced a look at Aria. She gave the slightest nod, indicating that he should just tag along. He hadn't been asked to speak throughout this entire interrogation.

"Um, yes." Ezra cleared his throat, scanning the page and then turning it to continue reading. The opening sentence, though, caught his attention and he knew what to say. "I could tell that there was something more going on the second I started reading it, I was concerned. I've noticed that Aria tends to distance herself from other people, and it's evident in her class work. When I read the words 'Everything I am is a lie.' I had to see if I could get through to her. I honestly didn't get very far into this story, though. I could tell right off the bat that it was very personal to her."

"Why did she ask you to read it then?" Wilden snatched the notebook back from Ezra and Aria was fuming. "Of every teacher in this school, she chose to have you read this story? Tell me, why would she do that if it's so personal to her?"

"He's the one that suggested I start writing short stories." Aria knew it wasn't the smartest thing to do, interrupting the detective, but she couldn't watch Ezra being harassed. This was entirely her fault, she knew it, and she would do whatever she had to in order to keep the heat off of him. Quickly she rummaged through her bag until she found the flyer for the writing competition and handed it to the detective. "He told me I should consider entering this. He said he thought of all his students, I had the most potential to win. So, of course, I wanted his opinion before submitting my work."

"I do remember asking Mr. Fitz to tell his students about this competition." Principal Williams conceded and Aria could visibly see Ezra relax at that.

"Yes, and if you've read any of Miss Montgomery's work from my class, you would see how I came to the conclusion that she should submit." He added, pleased with himself and the way that this conversation had been twisted. Aria held her composure, despite wanting to crack a smile at his comment. She could he was resisting the same urge and the thought alone comforted her. Wilden and the two officers stepped aside, whispering to one another. It was clear to Aria that Wilden was not happy with this outcome; he always seemed to just want either her or her friends to be guilty of something.

"You girls may return to class." He finally said to Aria and Jenna, who still had yet to utter a word. It was as if the girl weren't even there. "We'll finish up here."

"Wh-" Aria began to question until she was cut off..

"Now." Principal Williams dismissed them. The third officer helped Jenna to her feet and led her to the door, Aria following close behind. The two of them walked down the hall in silence, save for the clicking of Jenna's walking stick against the linoleum. Aria wasn't even sure where Jenna's class was, but the blind girl seemed to know the exact route to take.

"Don't forget," Jenna said, just as Aria was about to turn the corner. "This is the second secret I've had to keep for you. Don't be surprised if one day I come asking for you to keep one of mine."

Aria simply stood there, completely dumbfounded as Jenna continued on her way, eventually going into what she knew was Miss Warhol's Economics class. What did that even mean? All she knew was that Jenna now had the power. Not only did she know about Elliot, but she knew about The Jenna Thing.

*PLL*

Later that night, after Elliot was in bed and Aria was sitting across the living room from her mother, the two of them reading silently. She knew that her parents had been contacted about the meeting she and the other students had with the principal and the police, she'd heard her parents talking about it. Neither had brought it up to her and she knew better than to mention it herself. She had wanted to call Ezra, but she knew after the whole fiasco, he was probably being watched. The police really didn't have evidence against him, but one could never be too careful. She had a gut wrenching feeling about where they now stood. They'd only just established it, and now she wasn't so sure.

After nearly an hour of silence, Aria could feel her mother's eyes boring into the side of her head. She had just turned to meet the gaze when there was a soft, but desperate, knock on the front door.

Ella closed her book and swiftly answered the door. Aria craned her neck, trying to see who her mother was talking to. She was shocked, to say the least, when her mother returned with Spencer in tow.

"H-hi." Spencer stuttered. Aria looked at the clock at noticed that it was nearly eleven o'clock.

"Everything ok, Spence?" Aria stood from her spot on the couch and approached the taller girl. Ella excused herself, grabbing her book and heading down the hall to she and Byron's bedroom."It's kinda late."

"I thought about calling you," Spencer admitted. "but I felt like I needed to talk to you in person first."

"First?" Aria raised an eyebrow. "Spencer, what's going on?"

"When they called me in to the office this morning they told me that they knew you were the student they were looking for." Spencer said quickly. "Jenna heard you talking about me to Mr. Fitz and wanted to know what I knew. I swear, though, I didn't say anything to them about Elliot."

"What about Emily? And Hanna?" Aria questioned. "Did you say something to them? Because I saw you talking to them before school early this morning, and whatever it was they were pretty shocked by what you said." The look on Spencer's face said everything. Aria had never felt more betrayed in her life. She had trusted Spencer with this, and now she was regretting that decision. "I can't believe you!"

"I didn't tell them, I swear!" Spencer began to cry uncontrollably. "A sent them pictures and"

"Pictures?" Aria shrieked, clasping a hand over her mouth and looking towards the hallway where her mother had disappeared to. When she was certain her parents weren't coming she continued. "What the hell do you mean?"

"Pictures of you and Elliot, one from when he was born and one from I guess a few days ago." Spencer explained. "And the caption said 'Confused? Why don't you ask Spencer to explain?'"

Aria was frantic now. The only place she had pictures from Elliot's birth were on her father's laptop, as she hadn't been allowed one of her own until returning to Rosewood. Somehow A had broken into their home, or used her father's laptop at the college. A could truly be anybody.

"I'm so, so sorry, Aria." Spencer continued to cry. "I swear, I was never going to tell them."

"Ok."

"Aria, you have to believe me." Spencer pleaded. Aria just nodded, but she knew she looked indifferent. It wasn't Spencer's fault, she couldn't blame her, but she had to be angry at someone. A didn't have a face yet, but now more than ever Aria needed to put a face to the bitch that was making her life Hell.

*PLL*

The next few days, Aria just felt numb. People were still talking, and other teachers were being questioned about Ezra and whether or not they felt he was inappropriate with his students. Aria dreaded the day they called Mrs. Welch in, no doubt the woman would mention their many run-ins. Thankfully, though, it wasn't until Friday that Hanna and Emily even mentioned the pictures A had sent them.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Hanna blurted out over lunch. Aria had taken to sitting with them and eating before heading home to change for work. It had definitely been awkward, but Aria knew that she needed to reconnect with them. A was not joking and now that Jenna knew that they had blinded her, they need each other.

"When, Han?" Aria spit back. "When would you have liked me to tell you?"

"You could have at least told us you cashed in your v-card after it happened." Hanna folded her arms. Aria stifled a giggle. It was just like Hanna to be upset at the wrong information. While Spencer and Emily were upset that she'd withheld Elliot, Hanna was upset that she'd withheld her first sexual encounter.

"I was embarrassed, ok?" Aria admitted. She looked around the cafeteria. People were talking about her, they'd been talking about her all week, but she didn't want anyone to be able to talk about this. "I regretted it right away, and it wasn't even good! It just… hurt, a lot. Enough that I started crying and then it was just over. It didn't even last ten minutes. Besides, you would have asked who it was, and I just couldn't tell you that."

"Well who was it?" Emily furrowed her brow, adopting the worried expression she'd mastered throughout the years. "I know he was older, but you can tell us, Aria. You can trust us."

"I do." Aria said. As angry as she was over everything that had transpired, deep down she still trusted them. They were still her friends; the evidence of that was looking her directly in the face. "I do trust you guys, it's complicated."

"Then uncomplicate it!" Hanna said. "I wanna know who he is!"

"Hanna." Spencer scolded. "Not really appropriate. She doesn't want us to know, it's her business."

"I do want you to know, but," Aria dropped her voice to a whisper, ever-conscious of the eyes and ears surrounding them. "I don't want A to find out."

"A finds everything out anyway, you might as well tell us!" Hanna probably thought it was a reasonable request. Aria stared the three girls down. There was a point; A had found a way to get into everything. What could A do that could possibly make this situation worse?

"Ok." She expelled a breath she had been holding. Perhaps if she just put it out in the open finally, things would start to get better. "I'll tell you."

Emily and Hanna leaned over the table, closing in the space between Aria and themselves. Spencer didn't move, though Aria could see from the slight peak of her brow that she was just as interested. Aria took in a deep breath. She had so much as spoken the name of Elliot's father since she had discovered she was pregnant and that was over two years ago.

"You guys can't judge me for this because I know that it was dumb." Aria surveyed her surroundings once again, while the other three waited patiently. "I will be glad to offer the whole story later, in private, but-"

"Just spill already!" Hanna exclaimed, clearly excited to hear the latest scoop. Aria rolled her eyes but did as she was told.

"Ian is Elliot's father."

A lot of you said you thought Jason was the dad, but I had always planned for it to be Ian. And when you guys started guessing, I considered changing it, but things will make much more sense in the next chapter, Jason's not the dad but he was there! I originally wanted only Spencer to find out, but where's the fun in that? Please don't hate me. I know this chapter was short, but things are about to blow up now that the father's identity has been revealed. The girls are going to become much more prominent from here on out. Now that the police are involved, as they aren't done being involved, Ezra isn't. He won't be gone, I swear, but he has to lay low for a couple chapters.

And as far as the timeline for the story goes, I haven't had time to actually go in and edit the old chapters yet, but this is the timeline I've been working with:

November 24th, 1994 – Aria's birthday.

Memorial Day 2008 – Alison disappears.

July 4th, 2008 – Aria loses virginity and gets pregnant.

September 8th, 2008 (freshman year) - Aria and family leave for Iceland.

March 24th, 2009 – Aria has her baby: Elliot Michael Montgomery.

September 6th, 2010 (JR year) – Aria and family return to Rosewood.

As of now, it is almost Halloween in the story. And for the story's sake, Pennsylvania has the same licensing laws as Montana and other such states where you may get a permit at fourteen-fourteen-and-a-half and may receive a driver's license at fifteen. She is almost sixteen now, but was in Iceland at the time of her fifteenth birthday. The next chapter picks up two days later, on Halloween