After all these years

Chapter Twenty

"Mommy?" Aria's eyes fluttered open as she heard the soft voice of her daughter.

"Yes sweetie?" Aria asked as she sat up.

"Can we have a girls day?" Maddie asked with pleading eyes.

"Yeah we haven't had one in a while." Aria laughed.

"We used to every week before daddy came around." Maddie said looking at her father.

Aria just laughed at her daughters comment.

"Okay we'll have our usual girls day!" Aria said as she got up.

"Yay!" Maddie squealed waking Ezra up.

"What are we so happy about." Ezra asked as he picked up Maddie.

"Mommy and I are going to have a girls day." Maddie whispered into his chest.

Ezra got up with Maddie still in his arms and started the coffee maker.

"What are you guys going to do today?" He asked Maddie as he put her on the floor.

Aria went to answer but Maddie cut in.

"It's a secret." Maddie giggled and ran into Aria's arms.

"Mommy!" Maddie yelled as Aria winced at the loudness.

"It's snowing." Maddie whimpered.

"Here." Ezra said as he handed her a cup of coffee.

"Thank you." Aria said as she took a sip.

"Coffee?" Ezra asked.

"Yes please." Emily said getting up.

"Last night was...fun?" Emily laughed.

"Wait you remember stuff?" Aria asked.

"Not really." Emily laughed.

"Let's see what we all remember and piece the pieces together." Ezra said.

"Okay. I remember Aria talking about the baby." Ezra said.

"Me too." Emily whispered and put her head down.

"I don't." Aria said as she took a sip of coffee.

"How are you feeling?" Ezra asked Aria.

"Like shit." Aria whispered while Maddie was coloring on the other side of the room.

"Hey Mads?" Aria asked.

"Yes mommy?" Maddie asked not looking up from her drawing.

"We gotta get ready." Aria said looking at the clock.

Aria and Maddie got up and went to Ezra's bathroom to give Maddie a bath.

Aria turned on the water and put Maddie in.

"Momma?" Maddie asked as Aria was shampooing her hair.

"Yes baby?" Aria asked back.

"Did the baby..." Maddie started not sure she should continue.

"Die?" Maddie asked.

Aria stopped what she was doing for a moment then began to rinse her hair.

"He uh went to heaven." Aria whimpered.

Maddie looked up at her mother who was now crying softly.

"I didn't mean to upset you mommy." Maddie cried.

"Oh no honey you didn't. It's just that... Death is a very emotional thing. Especially if it was someone close to you. But it happens." Aria said.

Aria was conditioning Maddie's hair when she looked up to see her mother; puffy eyes and nose, tears streaming down her face.

Aria finished off Maddie's bath and took a shower herself.

Aria's heart ached that she had to explain this her young daughter.

Once Aria and Maddie got dressed, the girls left Ezra's apartment leaving him all alone.