Chapter 21

Aria POV

Recovery…

She couldn't believe she wasn't pregnant anymore, feeling a sadness grip her insides. A week had gone by; the memory of losing the baby fresh as though it was an open wound. She'd never wanted it, but thought it was a part of her, a part of Ezra. She rolled over in bed, hugging her empty stomach, remembering a life had been growing inside of it. She felt relief, but also despair.

Her mother still wasn't speaking to her, still reeling from the news of her and Ezra. She knew she had broken the trust between them. She knew she had to gain her mother's trust back, wanting that more than anything. She had never been at odds with her. Aria knew she had to give her some time to come to terms with it.

She was glad they both had Scott; he was really trying to mend the rift between them. She was never more grateful. She loved her mother, but she didn't want to choose between her and Ezra. She couldn't stop loving him. Even after everything, especially his abandonment, she still couldn't turn away from him. He was in her veins; she couldn't seem to shake him.

Aria knew was she was still recovering, but she couldn't get over how everything had gone back to normal. She still had to be watched closely, at least until another week passed. Everything else had changed, but not her body. It still looked as though she was pregnant. She didn't want any memories of ever having been pregnant.

She had finally told her friends with Staci by her side, liking that they didn't judge her, especially Mariah. It has been as though a tremendous weight had been lifted, causing her to relax and appear normal again. They had stopped by everyday she'd been in the hospital. She was never happier to have her friends there for her, helping her to get through it. It made her value her friendships more so than ever.

She didn't know if Ezra would ever come back, something she knew she had to face eventually. She wanted to see him, to talk to him, and to have him hold her in his arms. She needed for him to come see her, to be by her side, and help her though this. It was his loss as much as it was hers. She couldn't understand it, but she knew he cared for her.

Aria didn't know if he'll ever love her, but she would wait and see. She wanted him, wanted him very much. She couldn't stop thinking about him, couldn't stop re-living their moments in her head. She wanted it all back, their time together. She wished she could turn back the clock, wished she had stayed in Long Beach against his wishes.

She couldn't believe how much time had gone by, the summer coming to an end. In just three weeks, she'll be back in school. She didn't want to think about it. She had just gone through a miscarriage, a life changing experience. She knew Ezra would leave for good then.

How could she go back to being normal after all she had gone through? Had spent time with Ezra? After having experienced being in love? She didn't want to chalk it up as being one big mistake, a lapse in judgment. She had followed her heart, opened herself to Ezra. Where was he? Did he really not care? She didn't know what to think anymore, didn't know what to feel. She just knew she would never stop loving him, stop wanting him.

She was so lost in her mind that she almost didn't feel her bed dip with the weight of something, or feel the hand running through her long shoulder length hair. She closed her eyes, recalling that touch. She didn't want to believe it as the hand buried itself into her dark soft tresses as she re-opened her eyes and looked up into striking blue eyes. She didn't think, or hold back as she flung herself into Ezra's arms. He squeezed her tight, his other hand stroking her back.

Aria didn't know if she could ever let him go, enjoying the feel of him. Her body tingled with his familiar closeness. Her arms tightened around him, allowing her fingers to glide over his body, to feel what belonged to her. He was hers. She already belonged to him.

The warm feeling, the feel of security intensified as it spurred her to act. She couldn't seem to keep her fingers off him, touching him like only she knew how as he groaned deep in his throat. She kissed his chest, traveling up to his neck and face, and then to his mouth. She couldn't just kiss him softly, but hard and deeply as he kissed her back, his tongue rolling around inside her mouth as she moaned. She wanted him, making it known as she rubbed herself up against him.

"We can't," Ezra said in a harsh voice, thick with want as he pulled his mouth away. "You're still recovering".

God, she missed those eyes.

"I want you," Aria said breathless, panting slightly as she kissed down his neck and gripped fistfuls of his shirt. Those striking eyes darkened from her words as he swallowed. "Don't you want me?"

She hated how her voice sounded desperate, as though she couldn't contain herself.

"Aria," his voice was suddenly cold, his eyes flashing with anger as he turned his head and released her. His rejection hurt, the sting of it hitting home as she pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. "Aren't you tired of me hurting you?"

She didn't look up, but studied her cracked fingernail polish.

"I'm in love with you," Aria said softly as tears filled her big brown eyes, before coursing down her face. "Do you at least care for me?"

He got up from the bed and ran a hand through his hair, not wanting to see her cry as the anger left his eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked his voice less cold as he turned back around to face her. "I shouldn't have been gone so long".

She shrunk back as though he'd slapped her. Did he really blame her for the miscarriage?

"How could I?" Aria asked though her sobs of anger as she stared at him. "You never answered my calls or text messages".

He knew it was the truth.

"Aria, don't cry," he gathered up her in his arms again, rocking her as he wiped her tears away. "I should have, but I wasn't in the right frame of mind. I had to get through my own issues first. I wouldn't have been any help to you".

"Where were you?" her voice was a whisper, her eyes puffy and red from crying. "I wanted you, needed you".

"I was in Long Beach," Ezra said as he ran calming fingers through her silken locks, allowing them to coil around them. "I was in such a bad way. I literally had to struggle every day to reclaim myself, to find a way back".

"Did you ever think of me?" Aria asked silently, her big brown eyes full of tears as they trickled down her beautiful face. She closed her eyes as he put his lips to them, kissing them away as he hugged her tighter. "I never once stop thinking of you, about us, about what we shared".

"I tried not to," he said with honesty, letting his fingers trail down her back. "But you were always on my mind. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't shut you out".

"I'm sorry I got pregnant," Aria said quietly, wrapping her arms around his neck and buried her face into his neck, loving the way he smelled. "I didn't plan it".

She wanted him to believe her, to know she would never do anything like that.

"It's not your fault. I should have worn condoms," his voice was filled with regret as he kissed the top of her dark head, his breath ruffling the silky strands. "And I know you didn't. You're so good, so very sweet. I could never believe you'll be that deceitful".

She was glad he believed her.

"It is wrong of me to be happy about losing it?" Aria was somewhat hesitant, almost too afraid of his reaction to her confession. "I was never attached to it. I didn't know what was wrong with me".

"No," he breathed against her head as he pulled her onto his lap and scooted them back on the bed. "There's nothing wrong with you, you just weren't ready. And you're too young to be having someone's baby, least of all mines".

Aria wanted Ezra's baby in the foreseeable future.

"It's nice to hear you say that," Aria smiled against his chest, her fingers grasping the front of his shirt. "I would like to have children in the future, when I'm ready to have them".

"Was it really all that bad?" Ezra asked as he placed his hand on her stomach, trying to imagine a baby inside there. "The sickness I mean?"

"The worst," she gave a hiccupping laugh, peeking up at him. He was so beautiful, dark. She wanted to read his mind, to know what he was thinking at the moment as his striking blue eyes stared down into hers. Just having his eyes on her stole her breath away. Would he ever tell her anymore of his secrets? She knew she would wait for however long it took. He was worth it. "I have never vomited so much in my life, or been incredibly sore or tired. Do you regret being with me?"

She looked away from him, not wanting to see his regret. She knew she wasn't pretty, or desirable. Knew she wasn't good enough for him.

"I know I should, but I don't," he was surprised by his own admission. Her eyes lifted to his once more, clearly seeing his shock. "Do you regret being with me?"

He tried not to show it, but she knew how much her answer meant to him.

"No, I don't," Aria said without hesitation as she beamed up into his face. "I don't regret giving myself to you, I wanted you, and you wanted me".

His face was pensive.

"How are things with your mother?" Ezra asked as his fingers threaded through her plush tresses. "I took all the blame".

She knew he would.

"Not good," Aria couldn't keep the sadness out her voice as she snuggled more into Ezra's arms. "She still isn't speaking to me".

"I'm sorry," Ezra said as he exhaled profoundly. "I didn't want this for you".

It's okay," Aria assured him with another sweet smile. "I choose this. How are things with you and Scott?"

She took it as a good sign that he and Scott weren't killing one another. She knew Scott wanted to make up for the past.

"She's going to come around," Ezra knew that Ella loved Aria, and that she wouldn't go on ignoring her daughter. "I have to talk to him, but I wanted to see how you were doing first".

She was touched by his obvious concern for her. Did that meant he cared about her? Loved her even?

"That's what Staci told me," she couldn't keep herself from yawning, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle it. "He wants to make it right with you".

She didn't have to explain, he knew. She braced herself for his anger. It didn't come.

"You should get some sleep," he said as he lowered her onto the bed and got up. "We can talk some more later".

Aria reached for his hand as he turned to leave, her fingers curling around his to make him stay. She was happy he didn't pull away.

"Stay with me," her brown eyes pleaded with him as she bit her lip. "I don't want to be alone".

He nodded and climbed back onto the bed, stretching out behind her as he pulled her body closer to his and wrapped an arm around her waist. She closed her eyes and placed her arm over his, her fingers skimming his forearm as she felt the deep-rooted scars place there. It felt good to be held by him, to have his arm around her body. She knew he didn't like cuddling, but he never denied her. She moved further back into him, waning to feel the full impact of his hard body. His only reaction was tightening his arm around her.

Aria woke to a darken room, her eyes trying to adjust to her newly acquired vision. She felt around behind as she searched for Ezra. He wasn't with her, her heart falling in her chest. She had wanted him to remain with her. Was he planning to stay in Rosewood, or was he heading back to Long Beach? She didn't know, but she hoped he decided to stay.

She got up from the bed, running restless fingers through her long shoulder length hair, before twisting it into a knot at the back of her neck. She crossed her arms over her breasts and walked through the Jack and Jill bedroom to head into Ezra's bedroom. She spied his large form reclining back on the bed as his chest rose and fell as he slept. She inched closer towards him, wanting to be with him. She listened actively to his breathing, hearing as it changed once he realized she was in the room.

He pulled himself up as he turned his head in her direction. He didn't say anything at first. She didn't want him to turn her away. She gave him time to remember where he was, before taking another step closer to his bed. They didn't have to be careful anymore, their parents knew they were involved.

"What are you doing in here," Ezra asked, his voice rough-edged as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. She didn't take offense to his tone. She knew him well enough now to know he didn't mean anything by it. "I don't want to run the risk of your mother finding you in here".

He had a point, but she didn't care at the moment. She wanted to be beside him, to have him hold her once more.

"I woke up and you weren't there," Aria said as chewed her lip nervously, feeling stupid just standing there. She shifted around on her feet, her thigh brushing against the soft mattress of the bed. "She already knows about us, they both do".

"I didn't want to disrupt your rest, so I left," he said as he moved over to let her in the bed beside him. She took the invite, bringing their bodies closer than necessary. He didn't move over, or seem to mind her closeness. She took it as a good sign. "Still doesn't make it right".

She knew it didn't.

"I sleep more peacefully if you're beside me," Aria felt self-conscious for blurting it out, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. "I know it doesn't, but I don't want to hide how I feel about you".

"Why is that, you know I'm not perfect?" he asked as he drew his arm around her shoulder, drawing her into his body heat. "And we both know I can be unpredictable, dangerous even. I can't just change who I am in a matter of months. There's more I still haven't told you about myself, things I'm afraid to tell you".

She turned towards him and tucked her knee in, her hand wandering up to his face as she ran the tips of her fingers over his handsome features. She couldn't understand why a guy with his looks ever saw in her. She was plain, boring. She could never measure up to what he needed. She didn't know how long she'd be able to hold his interest.

"It's because of your imperfectness that I'm in love with you," her voice was soft, melodic as her fingers drummed over his hard mouth. He kissed her fingers, sucking on each one as he drew them into his mouth. She shivered, her body throbbing with need as she watched him through heavy-lidded eyes. A fire started in her belly as it worked its way up to her chest as she paced her breathing. She leaned heavily against him, forcing her desire for him down. She had to wait another full week before they could do anything again. She counted down the seconds. "Please… don't be scared to tell me. I don't care how bad it is. I'll never hold it against you".

His mouth found hers as she opened to him, reveling in the feel of his tongue as it grated aganist hers. His kisses were suffocating, burning up her insides as he took what he wanted from her. She wasn't afraid to push back, to demand more. He had never kissed her like this, so raw and slow. It made her dizzy, make her entire body shake.

She found that she couldn't wait to have him. She pushed against his chest and leaned back on the bed, pulling her night shirt over her head and chucked it to the floor. She knew she was running the risk of an infection, but she wanted him inside her. It had been too long since they had last had sex. She ached for him.

Ezra didn't fight with her as he took of his own clothes, coming down beside her as he hovered over her body. She nearly cried out when his hands and mouth found her swollen breasts and tumid nipples. She breathed hard through her nose as he rubbed his face into her chest, his tongue twirling around each nipple, before drawing them reverently into his hot opened mouth. She bucked against the gratifying sensation as she unconsciously laced her legs around him, her fingers hesitantly running down his arms. She couldn't think about anything else but him.

Aria locked her arms around his neck as he poised his hard, needful cock at her small opening and very carefully pushed his way in. He groaned at the tight walls they greeted him as he slowly, but surly started to move inside her. She felt a spark of pain, but she kept her legs wrapped around him and moved along with him. She held onto his neck and buried her face into his shoulder, feeling as he pumped into her, filling her to the hilt each time. Pleasure enveloped every part of her being, drawing her in until she couldn't see straight.

He was making love to her, something he had never done before. His thrusts were painfully slow, assuring her pleasure. Her inner walls clamped around him suddenly, almost crumbling his will of control. She kissed the place between his neck and shoulder, her mouth dragging down to his straining bicep as she met each of his thrusts. She couldn't hold her orgasm back as it hurled itself at her, causing her to moan aloud from the force of it.

His body tensed and he growled deeply, his hand gripping the headboard above her head as the force of his own orgasm poured into her. She clasped his body to hers, holding him until his convulses stopped. She didn't want to go back to her room. She had just got him back. She couldn't love him more than she already did.

What did you guys think? Was their reunion worth it? Please review and let me know!