Pretty Little Liars: 16 & Pregnant (Sequel)

What You Don't Know Can't Hurt You

Later That Day
Aria's Pov

I awaken to the sound of footsteps beside me, and my eyes spring open. The thought of V being in the house is still fresh in my mind, although when I see it's only Ezra, I begin to relax.

"Hey, why are you home already?" I ask, glancing over at Stella still fast asleep, before looking back at Ezra.

"Because I had to leave work early." He replies simply, setting some paperwork down on the dresser.

"Oh, why?" I reply, stifling a yawn. Ezra turns and gives me a hard look, catching me off guard.

"What's wrong?" I ask hesitantly.

"I had to leave work early because I got a call from our daughter's school." He starts "You weren't there to pick Piper up like you're supposed to do, she was waiting alone with her teacher and you never came. The schools office tried calling both of us, and I was the only one who picked up."

"Wait what, it's not time to pick Piper up yet, it's only..." I trail off as I glance at the clock, seeing that it's past the time her school ends.

"Yeah, and you didn't pick up your phone either." Ezra snaps "What if it was an emergency, huh? Then what would've happened?"

"Ezra I'm sorry!" I huff "Stella and I had a nap, I didn't realize we'd sleep this long. Where's Piper, I wanna—"

"She's downstairs watching cartoons." He cuts me off "I'm gonna go give her a snack, so feel free to keep napping." With that, he turns around and heads for the door, but I stop him before he can leave.

"Wait, Ezra!" I call as I sit up "Why are you acting so weird? I know I was stupid and should've set an alarm, but I'm sorry, okay? Thank you for leaving work early to pick her up, but I don't know what else to tell you, I didn't mean to do it."

He just stares at me with a blank expression "Forget about it Aria."

Ezra leaves the room without a second glance, and I listen as he walks down the stairs until the only noise left is the low hum of Piper's cartoons. I'm overcome with guilt for not picking her up and causing Ezra to have to leave work early, but I still can't help but feel that he was a little short with me. I don't know if I'm just telling myself this in hopes of excusing Ezra's rash behaviour, but I think there's something else bothering him. Understanding and forgiving are two traits Ezra usually possesses, he's not one to act irrationally.

I climb out of bed, considering leaving Stella to continue sleeping until the thought of V being in our house earlier crosses my mind. She shouldn't nap too much longer anyway, or else she'll never go to sleep tonight. I walk down the stairs with Stella still fast asleep in my arms, hoping she'll wake up before we get downstairs. That's one thing about this two-year-old of mine; she either sleeps like a rock or wakes at the sound of a footstep.

I walk into the kitchen, opening the fridge to find something to make for dinner later. Piper's cartoons still play from the living room, and I assume Ezra's in there with her. Once searching the fridge and cupboards and finding nothing to make a decent meal out of, I walk into the living room and sit down next to Piper, on the opposite side of Ezra. Stella still manages to be asleep in my arms, and I leave her that way mostly for the fact that I can't stand to wake her when she looks so peaceful. When she's asleep, I get a glimpse of my little baby Stella, for there's never a time kids look so much like their even younger selves than when they are sleeping.