Pretty Little Liars: 16 & Pregnant (Sequel)

Christmas in February

The Next Day
Aria's Pov

"I love you." Ezra says, giving me a quick kiss on the lips "See you later."

"I love you too," I reply "Have a good day at work." He grabs his keys, glancing at the clock and looking over my shoulder.

"Come on Piper!" He calls "We're gonna be late."

"I'm coming!" She yells, running into the kitchen. Ezra drops Piper off at school on his way to work, and I pick her up since he's not off until after her school ends. Ever since Piper was born I've been a stay at home Mom, although now that she's in kindergarten, it's just me and Stella all day. The quality time with my youngest little love is so enjoyable, and I'm happy to not have to work so I can stay with her all day.

"Here Piper," I say before she walks out the door "Put this on until you get to school, it's cold out today." I pull her panda toque over her head, then hand her a jacket.

"I'm just going in the car Mommy," She sighs "Then I'm gonna be inside."

"Not for recess and lunch." I reply "You'll need those then."

"Oh yeah." Piper says.

I glance at the clock "Okay, you need to get going, Daddy can't be late for work." 

"Bye Mommy." She says as I give her a kiss followed by her backpack off the hook.

"Have a good day, love you!" I call as her and Ezra walk down the front steps.

"Love you too!" They say at the same time.

"Wait!" Stella yells, running up beside me "Bye Daddy, bye Piper!"

"Goodbye Stelly-Belly!" Ezra laughs, blowing her a kiss. She returns it just as he and Piper get in the car, driving away a moment later. After I shut the door, starting to become cold, I look down at my messy-haired, pajama-clad daughter.

"So, it's just you and me, huh?" I say, picking her up and kissing her cheek. She just nods, smiling at me. Even though I spend nearly every weekday with Stella, a lot of the time we're running errands or I'm doing household chores, so I'm not actually just hanging out with her. Today, I've just decided, is going to be a Stella and Mommy day.

"Not saying we can do it, but if you could do anything in the whole wide world today, what would it be?" I ask. Stella's eyebrows knit together slightly as she forms an answer, and her little lips begin to purse.

"Ride in Santa's sleigh and visit Mrs. Claus and bring her macaroni." She answers in a bubbly voice.

I can't help but chuckle "Well I think Santa is too busy starting to make toys for next year, so I don't think that's really an option. But I was kinda hoping you'd say make cookies, because I feel doing that today."

"Can they be Christmas cookies?" Stella asks in a hopeful tone.

"Of course they can." I reply, even though it's February "But first we have to eat breakfast."

After we both decide on yogurt and granola, we sit down on the floor at the coffee table, per Stella's request. She wanted to watch a movie during breakfast, but I didn't want her sitting on the couch with yogurt, so we made a compromise.

"Can we watch Elf?" Stella asks.

"That's a Christmas movie." I reply, wrinkling my nose "It's February."

"But we're making Christmas cookies." She replies innocently.

"That is true." I nod "So Elf it is." I play the movie, one of my kids' favourites, especially during the Christmas season. Stella and I finish our breakfast early on into the movie, climbing up onto the couch to watch the rest. She snuggles up to me, much to my delight. As a baby, after about nine months old, Stella didn't really like to cuddle and be rocked to sleep. She preferred to go down in her crib awake, and would just stay restless if you tried to hold her while she was falling asleep. It was a bit of a shock to Ezra and I, as Piper was the exact opposite, but it just goes to show how different siblings can be. Although, Stella grew out of it by the time she was a toddler, and now likes to cuddle as if she's making up for the missed time as a baby.