Chapter 19

Aria POV

Eight Weeks Pregnant…

Aria had been nauseous all week, unable to keep any food down. Everything went back to making her sick. If she did eat, then she couldn't get too full, or she'll start feeling sick again. She couldn't understand it. She was feeling more nauseous than tired as of late.

She had also been dizzy, her headaches progressing more and more. She couldn't understand her body. She'd been fine all throughout last week, going for morning walks around the gated community. She missed them. She had to make herself get out of bed early this week to visit her doctor, Dr. Elizabeth Sanders.

She got up to use the bathroom; her bladder had been on repeat for the last couple of hours. The only drink she could have without feeling sick was water, cold water with ice that she munched on. It eased her stomach. She washed her hands and got back in bed, rolling onto her side. She'd been spotting and having cramps for the past three days, but her doctor had said it was a common occurrence in early pregnancy. Dr. Sanders had said all her vials were looking good.

Aria didn't doubt her doctor, knowing she was in capable hands. She was beginning to accept her situation, but she couldn't bring herself to feel something for the small life inside her. She'd never felt so unattached to something in all her life, her lack of emotion scared her. She had even asked her doctor and mother about it. She felt numb, receding more and more inside herself as the weeks passed.

She still wasn't showing, but she was bloating that made her look like she was. She wrapped her arms over her stomach, wanting so badly to connect to the life that she and Ezra had created. She thought back to what her doctor had said about the baby inside her. She knew all the major organs and external structural was starting to form, the heartbeat started to beat with a regular rhythm and the arms and legs were growing longer, its fingers and toes started to take shape, the sex organs were forming, its eyes started to move forward on the face and the eyelids have formed, the umbilical cord was visible, and the baby was a fetus and looked more human and was about 1 inch long and weighed less than 1/8 an ounce. She'd ordered two books on expecting mothers online at .

Aria got up from bed as she felt hunger pains go through her, announcing she was ready to eat something. She made her way downstairs and walked into the kitchen to make herself a light lunch. She warmed up the fresh chicken and noddle soup her mother had made the night before, scooping some into a bowl, and then sitting down at the table. It was amazing, loving the taste of the noodles, chicken and carrots, and celery. She didn't stop eating until she had devoured the whole bowl of yummy goodness.

Ezra still wasn't answering her calls, or text messages. She tried not to get discouraged, but she didn't know what else to do. She had promised Staci she would do everything she could to get in touch with him. She knew none of his friends in Long Beach. She had even thought about reaching out to Dr. John Hill, knowing Ezra was probably still seeing him.

Her head popped up from her thoughts as Scott walked into the kitchen, offering her one of his natural smiles. She found she couldn't be angry with him, that she had no right to judge him from his past mistakes. She knew how much he loved Ezra. Her heart hurt. He looked so much like Ezra, just an older version.

How could she tell him she was in love with his son? That she was pregnant by him? She had personally sat down with him and told him about her pregnancy, not seeing any disappointment in those striking blue eyes. He had listened and offered her his support. She remembered hugging him, gaining a piece of Ezra back. She watched as he poured himself a cup of coffee, took a bottle of apple juice from the refrigerator, and then came to join her over at the table.

"Thanks," Aria smiled as she took the bottle of apple juice, before grabbing her large bottle of prenatal vitamins. She placed a capsule into her mouth and washed it down with juice. "You're not working today?"

"You're welcome," The wrinkles around his eyes stretched as he smiled. "Not today. How are you feeling? Your mother told me you were feeling unwell".

"Not too good," Aria said as she placed a hand underneath the table and clutched her belly self-consciously. "I'm trying to sleep it off".

She wanted to tell Scott about her and Ezra. Initially, she knew he would be upset about it, but she wanted him to know. She hadn't even told her mother. She thought it was best to tell Scott first, to gauge his reaction. She gathered all her courage.

"That's too bad," Scott reached over to pat her other hand, before giving it a light squeeze. "Is there anything I can do for you, get you? I don't mind".

"There's nothing, but thanks," Aria felt better about telling him as she squeezed his hand back, before withdrawing it. "There's something I have to tell you, and I don't know how you're going to take it".

"Okay," he said calmly as he replaced his cup on top the table and gave her his undivided attention. His eyes were so like Ezra's, causing her to sigh sadly. "You know you can tell me anything".

"It's actually about Ezra and me," she struggled past the lump in her throat as he stared back at her with confusion, but she could mentally see the wheels turning in his head. "This is his baby".

There, she had told him. She had finally gotten it off her chest.

She observed as the many emotions played over his face, anger, sadness, and regret.

"Did he-" he didn't finish his sentence; Aria already knew what he'd been trying to ask. She shook her head no, seeing him relax. "How long has this been going on?"

"Since the beginning," Aria whispered, trying not to flinch under his intense eyes. "And he didn't set out to seduce me, I wanted him".

Scott shook his head and closed his eyes for a brief moment, his hands grasping his mug as he stroked the sides with his fingertips.

"Did he at least try to repel you?" Scott's voice was very low, but calm. "Tell me the whole story".

She did, leaving out the sex parts.

"I was attracted to him from the moment I saw him," Aria couldn't hold back her smile as her mind revisited their first introduction. "I'm in love with him".

He nodded his head, swallowing hard in his perplexity.

"I told him to allow you in, to get to know you, but I didn't expect this," he shook his head again, rubbing a hand over his face as he blew out a breath. "Are you aware he has past issues?"

"Please don't blame him," Aria pleaded with him, her big eyes sparkling with moisture. "And he has told me about his past addictions with sex, drugs, and alcohol. I don't care, I still love him".

"I have to place some blame on him, Aria. He knew better," Scott spoke honestly, a saddened smile planted on his mouth. "I'll be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in him, but also in you. What were you two thinking?"

They hadn't been thinking, least of all how it would affect their parents.

"I'm also to blame," Aria took her share of blame. "We didn't plan this".

"I wasn't there for Ezra when he was growing up," Scott voice was filled with shame and regret. "I was just so blinded in my love for Vivienne, to see that my son needed me. I let him down and I don't think he's ever forgiven me for it".

"We have all made mistakes," Aria sympathized as her eyes grew soft at the look of pain displayed on Scott's face. She could tell it was something he truly regretted, not being there for his son. "Has he told you more of his past? Did you know he cuts himself?"

Scott let a pain filled sob out before breaking down right in front of Aria. She tried her best to comfort him. His tears wouldn't stop coming as his body shook with anger. She had never seen him like this, so broken. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face against his hair as he continued sobbing like a baby.

His sobs stopped after a while, pulling back from Aria as he calmed himself. His hands were balled into fists as he pounded on the table, cursing loudly at his failure as a father. Aria could only watch him, knowing it was something he had to go through. Her heart ached for him, and for Ezra. He was at least showing remorse. She only wished Ezra was there to witness it, to see that his father really did love him.

"Ezra doesn't tell his mother or I anything," Scott said as he flicked his tears away, gaining some control. "I suspect Vivienne doesn't even care about what happens to our son. She has never wanted Ezra. I forced her to have him. I thought it would keep her tied to me. Those are the choices I have to live with for the rest of my life".

"I'm sure he'll be willing to forgive you," Aria smiled softly. "I know he loves you in his own way".

Aria knew Ezra tolerated Scott.

"I won't blame him if he doesn't. Ezra can be so like me in the temperament department," Scott smiled again as he thought of his son. "Does he know about the baby?"

"I guess I'm thankful I've never seen that side of you," Aria laughed, trying to lighten up the mood. "And I can't seem to get in touch with him".

"I've changed a lot in the past years," Scott said as he brought his cup of coffee up to his lips again. "I'll handle it. Does your mother know about you and Ezra?"

"No, she doesn't," Aria said quietly as she gazed into Scott's eyes. "But I'll tell her. I just wanted you to hear it first".

They both got up from the table and he pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her hair as he let her go. He carried his coffee out the kitchen with him. Aria knew he wanted to be alone, wanted to process everything Aria had told him. Aria gripped the edge of the table as she felt sharp pains, doubling over as she curled up into a ball. The cramps were insanely strong as they took her breath away.

She cried out, screaming as the pains doubled in their intensity. She could hear running feet, seeing as Scott kneeled down beside her as she writhed on the floor. She wanted the sharp pains to stop, begged for them to stop. She felt wetness between her legs, her hand venturing down to feel the stickiness as the same hand came back up with blood. There was so much blood as it pooled around her on the floor, her eyes clouding with tears. She was losing the baby.

I don't know about you guys, but I was actually happy at where this was going, especially with Aria telling Scott everything. Wow *tears* at what happened at the end. I mean Aria was beginning to accept the situation, but it just wasn't meant to be. I hope some of you guys aren't too mad at me, because I have always planned this from the start. I just didn't see Ezra and Aria caring for a baby. Will Ezra find out? Please review and let me know your current thoughts!