Aria and Ezra have been trying for a baby ever since they got married, but they've been looking down at negative pregnancy sticks and sighing and shaking their heads and giving each other encouraging words like "we'll keep trying" or "it will be okay". It's been four years and Ezra and Aria have been loosing hope that it will ever happen. Aria and Ezra have always wanted a big family and it just seemed unfit that they had to try so hard to get one.
"Good morning babe" Ezra says, kissing Aria as she stood over the stove flipping pancakes.
"Good morning" Aria says, smiling into his lips.
"So tonight we're going to Emily and Alison's house for dinner. All your friends and their kids will be there..." Ezra trailed off and Aria was at a loss for words.
Aria loved the girls and their kids but every time she saw them or someone mentioned them, a bulge formed in her throat and she couldn't breathe.
"Yeah yeah I know" She says
She walks over to the fridge and stands longingly at the door. Hanna and Caleb's three year old beautiful little girl, Bella, stared back at her. She opens the door, trying to remove the image from her brain and grabs the orange juice. Spencer and Toby's one year old son, Gavin, sat in a frame on the kitchen counter and Aria gazed at it as she passed. Emily and Alison's four year old identical twin girls, Grace and Lily, picture sat framed next to Gavin's picture. She sits down at the table, pouring juice and putting pancakes on Ezra's plate.
"Hey" Ezra calls which causes Aria to burst out of her thoughts.
"Huh?" She asks.
"Have you been listening to anything I just said?" He questions and she shakes her head.
"I'm sorry" She sighs.
"It's okay. What's on your mind?" He takes her hand and gives it a squeeze.
"The whole baby situation" She says. "Everyone can have babies and we want one more than anything and and... why is the universe so screwed up?"
She starts to cry and Ezra pulls her into his chest.
"I promise we will have a baby. One way or another, I promise you" He comforts her.
"That's the problem Ezra, we already had a baby" Aria cries, motioning to the little frame that sat on the kitchen table. "Our Daisy"
Aria and Ezra didn't like to talk about this subject. They had a baby, two years ago but she was stillborn and they have been unable to conceive ever since.
"Aria, we will have a baby. A loving, happy little baby" He says, kissing her head and taking away the plates. "Now it's time to get started on our plates for the dinner"
Aria knew it was a touchy subject between the both of them but she just wanted to talk about it sometimes. To grieve the loss of her baby. But it seemed too soon although it was two years ago. It had brought Aria and Ezra even closer together and they were trying to look towards the future instead of mourning in the past. Aria walked over to Ezra and started helping him prepare the dinner. Soon enough, it was time to go and Aria was standing in front of the mirror, admiring her red dress.
"You look beautiful, Ar" Ezra said, from behind her and she could tell he looked handsome without even looking at his reflection.
She spun around and wrapped her arms around his body.
"You look pretty handsome yourself" She smirks, taking his hand and leading him down the steps.
When they arrived at her parents house, mostly everyone was there. She was greeted with hugs and kisses.
"Aunt Aria!" Bella called, wobbling over to her and Aria couldn't help but long that she would call her mom. She wanted nothing more than to be someone's mommy.
"Bella boo!" Aria says, scooping Bella into her arms.
"Guess how old I am today, Aunt Aria?" Bella questions.
"Hmmm, let me guess. Are you two?" Aria smiles.
"No, Aunt Aria. I'm four!" She shouts, giggling and jumping out of her arms to find Ezra.
"Uncle Ezra!" She says. "Guess how old I am?"
Aria moves on to the rest of the crowd, giving Gavin a kiss on the head as he sat in his booster seat and pulling Spencer into a hug.
"Hey Spence, merry Christmas" She says.
"Merry Christmas, Ar" Spencer replies.
The night was filled with laughter and fun as they sat around the table, eating food. It was soon time for Aria and Ezra to return home and they hugged and kissed everyone goodbye.
"Wait everyone" Hanna calls, hitting her fork against a glass. "We have an announcement"
She took Caleb's hand and Aria and Ezra returned to their seats at the table.
"We're going to have another baby" Hanna squeals and everyone cheers.
Aria claps and hugs Hanna although she felt hurt inside.
"Did you hear that Bell? You're gonna be a big sister" Aria asked, trying to hold back the tears.
She picked up Bella and held her close to her chest as if she was her own child.
After that, Ezra and Aria went home. They curled up in bed together, holding each other tight. A few weeks later Aria wasn't feeling well. She decided it was best to take a pregnancy test although she didn't think it would be positive. While Ezra was at work, she took the test and cried when it was negative. Aria continued to puke every morning and Ezra was starting to get worried. He took her to the hospital and had her admitted to a room. Aria was scared. What is they told her something seriously wrong with her? What is she had some disease? What if she was going to die?
"We have your results back" The doctor says as Aria trembled in the bed. "You're five weeks pregnant"
"Pregnant? No, I took a test. It came back negative" Aria shakes her head.
"Sometimes tests aren't always right but we are one hundred percent positive you are pregnant" The doctor explains and a huge smile crosses Aria's face.
"Looks like we got our Christmas present after all" Ezra says, kissing his wife.
