winter wonderland

chapter 18

"Byron's staying I think; I have no idea Ezra if I'll be able to get away from him for Christmas with you" she said crying.

Ezra lifted the phone from his ear and let a soft sob leave his lips. Aria could hear, though he clearly didn't want her to have heard from it being so soft. Aria heard the phone hit his ear again as he took a breath and cleared his throat.

"At least call me when you can, okay? I hope I can see you tomorrow; I'll give anything to have you in my arms for our first Christmas together," he said honestly.

"I love you Ezra, I'll do my best; I swear. But I think I'm going to be watched like a hawk."

"I love you too, so much. Happy Christmas, Aria."

Aria cried into the phone and squeaked out, "Happy Christmas, Ezra," before hanging up the phone and letting the tears fall down her face as her head lowered, her hands returning to her stomach as she wished Ezra was with her too.

"Hello, I'm back," Byron said excitedly as he opened Ella's apartment door, shopping bags filled with food shopping in his hands, "and Mike's here too."

Aria looked up and saw Mike behind Byron, also with shopping bags in each hand, "I hope you're hungry, Aria, because Byron insisted on purchasing the whole food store for you," with an uncomfortable chuckle as he followed Byron toward the kitchen.

"Mike," Aria shouted as she sat on the couch, "would you mind meeting me in my room?" Aria said blankly as she stood up and headed toward her bedroom. The sound of Mike placing the bags on the kitchen floor was followed not long afterwards with the sound of his footsteps along the floorboards as he walked towards Aria's room.

Aria was sitting on her bed; a pillow was being clutched to her chest. Mike's eye's widened and his face saddened instantly as he read the expression on Aria's face; she was heartbroken. Mike quickly closed Aria's bedroom door and sat next to her, he put his arm around her shoulders.

"Sup, Uncle Mike," Aria said through her tears, attempting to sound a lot happier than she was right now.

"What? Are you serious?" Mike said excitedly as he wrapped Aria in his arms. "But wait, that's good news, right? You're in love with this guy right? Engagement rings exchanged and all that?" Mike pulled back and asked with a confused face.

"Of course I'm excited. Fabulously so, and he is beyond excited too. I'm sad about Byron," Aria said as her bottom lip quivered.

'Of course that was why she was sad,' Mike thought to himself as he remembered Byron in the equation, as he put his arm around Aria's shoulders; her head leant against his shoulder.

"And now," Aria said sniffling, "Byron's going to be here, watching me like a hawk. I can't even spend Christmas with him; we can't spend Christmas with him," Aria said looking down to her stomach, before returning her eyes to Mike; her eyes consumed with tears.

Mikes eyes watered as he watched his sister cry. His mouth dropped as he tried to speak, but decided to withhold it. He was then struck with an idea before he put his hand under Aria's chin, bringing her attention to what he was going to say.

"Okay, tomorrow, say you're going to see Ella; that you want to spend Christmas with her. Ella and I can cover you with Byron; go and spend your Christmas with him. What's… what's his name though?" Mike asked as he laughed, "you've never told me but I'm keeping your secret," Mike said scowling at his sister who mimicked the scowl before deciding to respond.

"Ezra, his name is Ezra," Aria said smiling through her tears as she registered Mike's suggestion. "Yeah Mike, I think that can work. Thank you so much. You'll back me up, right? Help convince Byron that it's a good idea to let me see 'Ella'? I want to see Ella too; see everyone I love for Christmas," Aria said raising her eyebrows and punching Mike in the side of his arm playfully as he rolled his head to the floor, nodding with a wide smile on his face, knowing he was included in Aria's grouping.