Hey guys, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

RIGHT HEART, WRONG DECISION

With the right heart, Wrong decision, Keeps you blinded,
Tunnel vision, Oh the road to love is paved with good intentions.

Meanwhile on the other side of town in a little Italian restaurant, where the rehearsal dinner was being held, Hanna tapped her fingers furiously on her phone in an desperate desire to get in connect with Aria. Noel rolled his eyes and took advantage of the open bar, he held the beer to his mouth and gulped it all up in an instant.

"Guys ..." Emily began, "What if—they, uh, ran way together?" She said what was on everyone's mind, Spencer bit her lower lip and then shook her head as if that would get rid of the prospect of that even happening.

"No, no, no" Spencer replied, "Nope! That's not happening—it can't, right?" she asked, hesitantly.

Hanna shrugged, "Well Aria and Fitz are both hopeless romantics so I wouldn't be surprised if they're running away hand in hand plus I'm not the only one who sees the way he looks at her, right?" She asked,

"And the way she looks at him," Noel replied, nodding in agreement, "They're in love, it's about time they admit it."

Suddenly Caleb shuddered, "Oh, I'm sorry. I've still not gotten used to the fact Aria was sleeping with Ezra during our high-school years," He explained as everyone looked at him.

"Once," Noel clarified, they looked at him dumb-founded, "They slept together once—what? She tells me things when she's drunk," He added, and then rolled his eyes.

"It was kind of self-destructive, I mean he could have gotten thrown into Prison," Toby said, "He must have really loved her to risk his entire career on," He added,

"He did," Spencer replied, hesitantly "And what he's going right now, leading Grace on, pretending like he loves her is really awful," She said, with a sigh. Grace was one of her closest friends and she didn't want to get hurt nearly as much as she didn't want Aria to get hurt.

The restaurant was quiet and then a sudden loud voices interrupted the silence, "I can't believe you're blaming me," He said, as he walked through the hallways that led them into the restaurant, "Well, it's not my rehearsal dinner, is it?" She replied, "Plus I thought you were keeping an eye on the time," And just before he was about to retort, he noticed all the gazes on him.

Aria smiled sheepishly, and then bit her lower lip as her parents looked at her. Then, without a word to him, she walked over to the table where her friends were seated and sat down next to Noel.

"Where were you both?" Spencer questioned, "We were talking—just talking," She replied, pushing her chair in,

"She asked you where you were not what you were doing!" Noel said, raising his eyebrow. A blush tinted her cheeks as she realized what she had, unwittingly, implied.

"Oh, uh, outside of the Fitzgerald residence"

Whilst she was answering her friend's questions, Ezra was busy apologizing to his fiancée. She just smiled and shook her head declaring that it didn't matter, they then began to greet everyone.

"Hey Ella and Byron," Ezra said, with a smile, "I'm so glad you both made it, this is Grace. My fiancée" He said, looking at her and she smiled up at him. Ella smiled as she looked at the woman, there was no doubt she was a beauty.

"Ezra you never told us how gorgeous she was," Ella replied, "And I wouldn't miss it for the world," She added,

Grace smiled, a blush tinting her cheek "You're, uh, Aria's parents, aren't you?" She asked, and they nodded, "Yes, we are," Byron replied, "It came as a shock to us when we found out that our daughter was close friends with her high-school English teacher."

He stiffened his jaw, if they knew the truth he was sure they wouldn't be standing here, "To me too," He replied, and they began to discuss the changes in their lives

"You didn't prepare?" A, very heavily, British accented voice spoke "What the hell are we going to do?" Wren asked, suddenly feeling very anxious. He was usually very well-prepared, and when he had something important that he left in the hands in someone else, he felt very nervous and right-fully so.

Hardy rolled his eyes "Well you didn't either, we'll wing it. All we need to say are some funny things, some lies and how happy we are about this union," He said, nonchalantly, as he took a sip of the beer in his hands.

Wren narrowed his eyes in curiosity, "You don't sound very happy," He commented, he had been in London for the last couple of years as he had a job opportunity there and wasn't really aware of anything regarding his friend's life: Both Ezra and Hardy.

"Ezra's getting married to a woman who loves him of course I am happy!" Hardy replied, unconvincingly. "And whom he loves," Wren added, Hardy snickered and then cleared his throat "Well that's open to debate," He added, rather cynically.

In an hour or two, when everyone had least had two glasses of wine, Wren and Hardy stood up on stage, "Hello ladies and gentlemen," Hardy said, with a wink causing Ezra to roll his eyes as he saw his best-friend, "I'm one of Ezra's best-friends, one of his very few friends as he is basically an introvert, I've known this man since we were five years old. That's thirty years, Jesus, we've been friends for thirty." He said, shocking himself. Wren nudged him motioning for him to continue "And most of you may be wondering how it's possible to remain friends with such a dull and boring creature, well, I'm afraid I don't have any answer for you—," And before he could continue Wren interrupted him,

Wren covered his mouth as he spoke, "And this is why we should have prepared," He muttered, smiling awkwardly at the crowd, Hardy glared at him and tilted his head slightly "Well, okay why don't you do it? I'm trying over here, okay?"

Ezra rolled his eyes, "Are you guys seriously doing this? Hardy, didn't you say you were working on a speech earlier this week," He questioned, irritably, and Hardy nodded, the guests smiled amused at the interactions between the close friends.

He cleared his throat, "Yeah I was but, uh, it was boring me and Lindsay called—you remember Lindsay right?" He said, and when Ezra looked at him with a dumb-founded expression. Hardy moved his hands into a cupping position and mouthed 'BOOBS'

Aria looked at the scene in front of her and let out a little laugh, over the last three years she had spent some time with Hardy so she knew what a character he was and also that he knew about their previous relationship. "Does anyone want wine?" She asked, everyone shook their head so she got up and walked over to the bar.

Ezra walked over to the guys letting them know that they didn't have to continue

"Okay, let me continue." Wren said, and spoke loudly, "Even when we were younger and silly idiots claiming girls had cooties and running away from them, Ezra wouldn't. He was always a hopeless romantic and more often than not it didn't work in his offer but I am so glad that it finally has because, Aria, he has waited for years for you and I know that he will love you until his very last breath." He spoke unaware of what he had just said, most of the people listening spoke in hushed whispers and as Wren saw Ezra's shocked face he realized he had said something wrong.

Aria, who was sipping her wine, coughed as she heard Ezra's English friend say her name. Her friends looked over at her and she shrugged, she watched as Ezra's eyes widened. She wondered what the story was behind this slip.

"Her name's Grace, you idiot!" Hardy muttered, "What happened to Aria?" Wren questioned, nonchalantly, Ezra shook his head in disbelief and then spoke "He meant Grace, I apologize for my drunken friend's mistake." He said, with a nervous low chuckle. Then he pulled the two of them off the stage.

Grace sat on stage, her cheeks flushed a deep red due to embarrassment, she watched as her fiancé spoke his friends. Her maid of honour stood up sensing her embarrassment and began speaking about something far more appropriate. This night could not get worse, first he strolled in late with Aria following him suspiciously enough and then Wren spoke of her as if she was someone he once loved.

Was she?

She bit her lower lip, and then watched as Aria gulped up beer from where she stood, she noticed her gaze and sent a friendly smile which Grace returned. Ezra walked over to where she was sitting and sat down next to her, "I'm so sorry about that." He mumbled, apologetically.

"Don't worry about it," Grace replied, sweetly, "It's Aria Montgomery, Isn't it?" He cleared his throat, "The one Wren was talking about, and you had been waiting for her for years?" She asked, widening her eyes in curiosity. She looked at him begging him to be honest.

He sighed, "It was a long time ago," He replied, hesitantly. Ezra didn't know what to say, he wanted to be as vague as possible and not dwell into, what had been, their love-story. Grace let out a little sigh and focused her gaze onto her maid of honour who was reciting a very eloquently worded speech.

"You should have told me," She said, with a fake smile etched on her face, "I know, and I'm sorry." He looked at her, sincerely, and he was sorry for all of it. He was sorry for having irrational feelings towards his ex-girlfriend, he was sorry for constantly disappointing her and never reaching the standards to what a boyfriend was supposed to reach.

"You've been apologizing an awfully lot in the last couple of months, I want to talk to you alone before the night ends." She replied, and he nodded. From the corner of his eye he could see Aria leaving, and Noel following her.

In her dangerously tall heels and pretty summer dress, she left the venue walking down the side-walk of the road all alone. She couldn't stay inside because she knew if she did she would go something she may later regret—for instance tell him how she truly feels about him and that was the last thing she ever wanted to do. For some stupid, naïve reason she had thought coming to his wedding would give her some sort of closure—that she would finally be able to move on but it was the exact opposite. Being with him in the past two days since she arrived him brought up memories and some feelings she didn't even know she had.

"Where are you going?" Noel asked, as he rushed out of the restaurant, "Back to the Fitzgerald residence" She muttered in response, and then turned around to look at him. "You need to tell him" He said,

Aria let out a humourless laugh and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, "Tell HIM WHAT? That I'm madly in love with him, that I have been since I was sixteen years old. That every night I go to sleep thinking of him and every morning my heart is broken as I realize he is not sleeping next to me." She whimpered, "Or do I tell him that in my subconscious I imagine myself with him, I imagine myself to be happy. Or perhaps that the thought of Grace walking down the aisle, instead of me, to him makes me want to scream and cry. What hurts even more is knowing that she's better suited for him,"

Noel nodded, "Yes tell him exactly that," He replied, she scoffed.

"And ruin our relationship, I don't think so. He doesn't feel the same way about me if he had, he would not be getting married. And I need to break myself of this delusion. I need to stop thinking about him like that and realize that Ezra Fitz does not love me and never will. Seeing him getting married tomorrow won't make it easier for me to move on but it'll push me into the right direction." She stated, in realization, "I'm going to go, Noel, tomorrow we can pretend as if this conversation never occurred,"

He sighed as he watched her walk away—a broken figure of a woman, she was one of his best-friends and he'd be damned if he ever saw her cry again over Ezra Fitz. Noel didn't exactly know what to do but what he did know was that he was going to do something. He turned around and Hardy was standing there by the door, smiling sheepishly at having been caught.

"How much did you hear?" Noel asked,

"All of it," Hardy replied, "But It's not up to us anymore. We can't help them, they have to help themselves and decide whether they want to be happy or live a meaningless life just for the sake of not hurting others" He said and Noel realized the truth of the statement. It didn't matter how badly he wanted for her to be happy it was now something she had to do on her own, he sighed and followed Hardy back into the venue.

She walked around full-circle around the Fitzgerald residence in an attempt to clear her mind, and try to think about something who was not him but she found that it just was not possible. Noel knew so, chances were by the end of the night, her friends would too and she didn't want to be the object of her pity and worry.

Her phone began to buzz, and she let out a miserable sigh as she saw who it was, but then, after inhaling and exhaling, she answered the phone "Hey Ali," She said, in a fake cheery voice.

"Oh thank-god, why is no one answering my phone? I need you to pick me up," Alison replied,

Aria rolled her eyes at her ill-mannered former best-friend, over the years their relationship had deteriorated as had Alison's relationship with the rest of the girls, she supposed it was because as they grew older her impatience for her grew more and more. Her patience for Ali's bull-shit grew thin and she had been confident—and matured enough to know that she didn't owe Alison anything and that cutting her out of her life wouldn't be cruel but rather a decision she would grow to love.

But it seemed as if Ali didn't understand why her friends, who once responded to her beck and call, claimed they were busy when she was in town or didn't respond as eagerly to her calls as they once had, Alison was still somewhat in the delusion of the fact she was queen-bee and everyone else was lesser—inferior.

"I'm not home," Aria said, irritably, "And hello to you, too."

"Where are you?" Alison questioned as if she had right to knowing, she had certainly had not stepped out of her bubble of arrogance and vanity since High-school and was almost oblivious about the way they had felt about her. "It doesn't matter. I need you to pick me up, I'm at JFK."

"No, that's more than an hour's drive. I'm all the way in The Hamptons." Aria said, tapping her feet impatiently. She supposed she could pick her up after all the last thing she wanted to do was go to an empty room but that just meant giving in to Alison's game by immediately doing as she asked.

"Then what the hell am I supposed to do? I have no money, do you want me to sleep on the floor of this freaking airport. What If I get attacked? That'll be all your fault." Alison said, her flair for dramatics and coming up with scenario's to blackmail people into doing what she wished hadn't left her when she got her high-school diploma.

Aria hoped that the drive would be a quick one and that Alison's manipulative tendencies wouldn't be on show or that she wouldn't drag Aria into something that she didn't want to do or go too. With a groan, Aria gritted her teeth, "Fine, I'll pick you up." She replied, and then hung up the phone. And as Aria, hesitantly, got into her car and began to drive to the airport Ezra was on the other side of town speaking to his fiancée

"I don't know," Grace said, and shrugged, "You've just changed, I don't even exactly know how but you have, and perhaps it's wedding blues or cold feet or maybe you just don't want to marry me." She added,

He hesitated before replying, "Of course. I, uh, want to marry you, Grace, It's just nerves." He replied and then walked towards her, pecking her softly on her lips "I can't wait to marry you."

She smiled and then wrapped her arms around him, "That's all I needed to hear," And once he heard her say those words he never felt worse, he wished he loved her as much as he did, Aria, but he didn't. He couldn't leave Grace, she had been there when Aria hadn't albeit it being his fault for her absence in his life for so many years.

Just because he found Aria again didn't mean he could just leave Grace, and he didn't even know whether Aria had any feelings, romantically, towards him, he sighed internally and then sat outside in the mid-July heat as she left him to go greet some of her family members.

Ezra scolded himself as he thought of the intimate moment he had spent with Aria just a couple of hours back—yes, it was nothing of the sexual sort occurred as it had done back when he was seeing Simone nor did they have any stolen kisses but it just seemed so much worse for some reasons. He supposed it felt worse because it wasn't his hormones he could blame as all they did was talk, they shared a bond which didn't derive out of eroticism or sexuality but rather something emotional and psychological.

He felt a bond to Aria without even touching her, he felt something there that he was so sure would never leave. He felt, well he supposed, love towards her. Love that had passed the test of time and distance and had not faded. It had been years since they had touched like that but from time to time he could still feel her caress and her body pressed against his as they declared their love for each-other physically rather than vocally.

A gulp escaped his mouth, "I love you, Aria," He mumbled, "You may never hear these words leave my mouth but I do," He said aloud, and then let out a humourless laugh before joining the others in celebration of a one-sided love.

Whilst Ezra participated in the celebration of his up-coming marriage, Aria sat in JFK parking lot waiting for Alison to arrive. The sound of the door opening startled her and she watched as Alison got into the car after placing her suitcase in the back.

"Hey!" Alison said, surprisingly cheery for having been in a long flight from Paris to here, "How are you? How come the girls are not here with you?" She asked,

Aria reversed out of her parking space and began to drive, "They're still in The Hamptons, I'm afraid I'm the only one you have right now," She replied, "How was Europe and where's Elijah?" She asked, Elijah was just one of Alison's boyfriends. He was rich, handsome and tall. Everything Alison could possibly want which, to most, was superficial but to them, it was just Alison, and thinking about it like that made her realize how awful this relationship was.

"Europe was great, but Elijah was not. He kept making these grand declarations of love as if it would hide his dull personality SO I dumped him," Alison said, nonchalantly pulling her knees up to her chest.

"ALI!" Aria said, "He was a great guy, and you were in Europe with him for two years. Surely, he wasn't so dull because you stuck around with him twenty-four-seven" She added, Alison didn't understand what a rarity it was to be loved by such a wonderful man but then Alison had dozens of suitors.

The blonde smirked, "Oh honey, who said I was with him twenty-four-seven?" She replied, with a wink, "I met a lot of men as we travelled through Europe. Elijah was just, basically, a way for me to be able to travel and dine and live at such luxurious hotels." And as Aria heard her stories, she felt as though she was in high-school again—she felt vulnerable and week—which was exactly why she didn't want to pick her up.

"You used him for his money," Aria commented, she shook her head in disapproval and drove into the parking lot of her building. There was no way in hell she was going to take her back to Ezra's grand-parents mansion after all she hadn't been invited and she didn't hate everyone there so much that she would bestow upon them the character that was Alison DiLuarentis. On their drive over here she had decided that she would leave early in the morning to be on time to the wedding.

"I thought we were going to The Hamptons," The blonde said with furrowed eyebrows and then jumped out of the car following Aria up the apartment complex into the apartment she shared with Noel,

"We didn't go to The Hamptons because we wanted to get away or go on vacation, we went there because we are attending a wedding of mutual friends." Aria replied, throwing her keys on the table beside the door, "And you weren't invited,"

Alison rolled her eyes as she plopped onto the couch, "whose wedding is it anyway?" She asked, and Aria grabbed a bottle of still water out of the fridge before sitting down next to her, "Ezra Fitz." She replied.

Her mouth fell open, and then she looked at Aria with a hateful look in her eyes, "Jesus, I can't believe he's still not over that. I mean like come on, it's been what? Eleven years. I can't believe he told you either," The disdain rolled off her tongue as she spoke,

"What?"

"Well ... I'm assuming you asked him and he said I'm not invited, he's such a little asshole. You're lucky he dumped you," Alison replied, rolling her eyes. Aria looked at her in disbelief.

She shook her head, "That's not what happened," She said, slowly, her eye-lids growing heavy "How do you know he dumped me?" She asked, and Alison bit her lower lip realizing she had said too much.

"It was senior year, and I was pissed off that you were having this illicit affair with our fucking English teacher and didn't tell us so I took matters into my own hands for your sake and told him to break things off or else." Alison said, looking down.

"Or else what?" Aria asked, gulping.

Alison didn't reply, she knew doing so could possibly end their relationship as friends. She was not an idiot, she knew already that her friends were wary over spending time with her and had drifted apart from her. She no longer had the control she once did over them in High School.

"Or else what?" She repeated, this time more sternly and in control.

After a momentarily silence, Alison parted her mouth to speak, "Or else I'd call the cops on him and I'd ruin your life so much so that you would never be welcome in Rosewood ever again" She said, in a low whisper.

Aria gasped unwittingly and water droplets escaped her eyes "How could you?" She said, standing up not wanting to see her face. Alison, too, stood up and bit her lower lip.

"What you guys were doing was wrong and it needed to stop, it was illegal for crying out loud and disgusting," Alison said, defensively.

She let a humourless laugh as she felt a lump form in her throat, "Oh cut the crap, Ali, and you didn't do what you did because you had moral issues to it. You did it because you were angry that I was in a relationship with an older man and you did not know. You were jealous, and angry at me, and I know for a fact that you would have ruined my life If Ezra didn't do what you had asked him too. You weren't just trying to scare him, it was the truth and it just makes this so much worse."

"Aria—" Alison began but got interrupted, "No I don't want to hear you speak, nothing you will say will change the way I feel about you right now. Do you realize that you have ruin my one chance at love? If it hadn't been for you, he would not be getting married. Chances are we would be happy together right now. When we broke up, I was heart-broken and so sad. I cried endlessly and you knew about it but because of your selfishness and arrogance you allowed me to remain that way—to feel so broken that no one could fix the pieces and I blamed Ezra for it when the truth is that it was all your fault. He was just trying to look out for me."

"I still don't understand why we are still friends with you." Aria paused, catching her breath "You toyed with Emily's feelings, you were the reason of Hanna's bulimia and insecurity and they were your best-friends. You've made people's lives miserable for simply looking at you the wrong way. And I don't want you in my life any-more. You're toxic, to me and everyone around you." She said, bitterly, "You can stay here tonight and come tomorrow, I want you gone and to stay gone."

"Every thing's a game to you, isn't it? And I bet intervening in our relationship—which was solely our decision and you shouldn't have butted in—was just another one of your vicious, manipulative and sociopathic games."

The look on Alison's face was one she never forgot—a look of genuine sorrow and remorse—but Aria wasn't about to forgive her over one little moment, she never wanted to forgive her. She wanted Alison to suffer just as she had made everyone, whom she assumed inferior to her, suffer. And after she had said what she needed to say she rushed into her room banging her door shut. Aria didn't even make it over to her bed—she rolled down the door and curled up into a foetal position letting out sobs. That night Aria slept on the floor with a heavy-heart and tear-stained cheeks.

Meanwhile Ezra awoke at the crack of dawn, he sat in his bed with the sheets thrown over his very tall body. His suit was on the hanger on the wall, freshly dry-cleaned, he sighed and rubbed his eyes before letting out a yawn. He took a very long and cold shower as he came to terms with what was about to occur today. He needed to speak to her—for some reason he felt a need and so he got up and got dressed into his casual attire before walking down the halls of his grand-parents' house.

The girls were sharing a room as there was not enough for one each, he felt his heart race as he knocked on the door but to his surprise it was not Aria who opened it but rather Spencer Hastings, she looked at him with a questionable look "She's not here," Spencer said, irritably, "She went to pick Ali from the airport and spent the night in her apartment," She said, with her arms crossed across her chest.

"Oh," He replied, with a smile, not trying to let his disdain for Alison to roll off his tongue, "Ah, well I, uh, I'll see you around Spencer," He added and then turned around, Spencer sighed and closed the door behind her as she followed him out.

"Hey Ezra!" Spencer called and he turned around with his hands in his pocket, "I want to speak to you," She said, and he raised his eyebrow in curiosity but nonetheless nodded, she walked to him and they walked out onto the balcony which overlooked the entirety of the Fitzgerald residence.

Spencer didn't say anything for a while, she just looked at the view. She had never been aware of how wealthy Ezra's family were, if this was Rosewood they would definitely running in the same social circles.

"What is it that you want?" Spencer asked, not looking at him,

He sighed, "What do you mean?" He replied, as he briefly glanced over at her whilst leaning his hands on the railings of the balcony, but he knew exactly what she meant. Spencer was extremely observant and you would have to be an idiot to not see the chemistry of Aria and Ezra when they were together. It was as if they were meant to be,

"You know what I mean," She said, with a roll of her eyes, "You can't keep doing this. Flirting and spending time with Aria, coming to her with every single inconsequential thing—and I understand she does the same with you—but this has to stop. In less than five hours you're going to be a married man and if you can't keeping this to Aria." She added, sternly.

He furrowed his eyebrow in confusion, "Doing what?" He asked,

"Spending time with her, I suppose, the two of you have deluded yourself into thinking this friendship is just that when it is clearly more. I love my best-friend and I can't stand to see her hurt, she would kill me if she finds out I told you this but it really hurts her to see you with Grace—I suppose she still cares for you in a way that's not platonic so if you want Grace to be happy—stop talking to Aria, it'll hurt her when she'll get over it and it won't hurt her as much as it does to see you starting a married life with Grace or—," She hesitated,

"Or what?"

Spencer sighed, "Grace is one of my closest friends and if you're walking down the aisle today when you love someone else, and if you're deluding Grace into believing you I will never forgive you—so make a choice, Ezra. Love or obligation." She stated, it sounded cruel for her to utter those words but she knew the truth—he was only marrying her because he had proposed and felt as if he could not just break her heart like that.

"I'm going to go get ready," She said, and then walked away, Ezra turned around and watched as her figure became smaller and smaller.

Alison DiLuarentis felt a surge of pain, and remorse fill her the night before as Aria had said—spat—those words at her, she didn't even care that the girl who she considered her best-friend was saying them but rather the fact that they were true. And she wanted to make it up to her—to all of them, she just didn't know how. She held her hand up to the door and hesitated before knocking, whilst inside Aria stood in front of her mirror in a purple dress she had grabbed from her closet since she had left the other in The Hamptons.

Her hair had been curled and pushed to the side, and she was wearing strappy dress. On her neck she had a necklace which she owned since she was sixteen, she didn't know why she had rummaged through her jewellery just for a necklace she didn't particularly like perhaps it was because back then she was happy—much happier than she was now. It brought back memories, she smiled a little as she looked at her appearance and realized that if she wanted to get there in time it was probably best if she left now.

She grabbed her clutch and then opened the door seeing Alison, she had assumed that the manipulative blonde had the decency to leave before she woke up but apparently she didn't, Alison looked at her and smiled.

"You look nice," Alison commented, Aria pushed past her, "Aria—I'm sorry, I really am. Please forgive me." She begged, as she watched Aria grab her keys off the side table. The brunette turned around and shook her head.

"No," Aria replied, "I do not forgive you. I'm sorry but I don't." She added, "I can't take any of the lies and deceit anymore. Ali, you black-mailed the man I was seeing because you were angry I hadn't informed you of our relationship."

For a moment Alison considered just leaving, but she was stubborn "When we were in high-school I was an awful person, I know I was and I don't have any excuses for that—all I wanted was attention and for people to love me. I was—am—a narcissist. And I am sorry for hurting you the way I did—I wish I could change the past but I can't. One thing I can change is the way I act in the future so can you please just give me another chance. Please," Alison begged,

Aria looked at her tearful best-friend, she thought about how angry she had been and how awful she had felt for going off at Alison like that. Yes, Alison deserved her words but one point they had a good relationship and they were both adults now. There was no reason that they couldn't go back to that, she didn't want to lose another friend.

"Okay … but this doesn't mean I forgive you—just that I'm giving you another chance," She said, quietly, and Alison hugged her tightly "Thank you so much," The blonde murmured, and Aria smiled sighing softly.

Alison smiled in response as she let go, "Thank you," She repeated, "I promise you I will become a better friend." She added,

"I'm optimistic," Aria replied, "You're going back to Rosewood, aren't you?" Alison nodded, "Okay, I'll drive you."

The blonde furrowed her eyebrow in confusion, "But—the wedding," She questioned,

"It's okay, there's a couple of hours left. I'll be fine." Aria replied, but the truth was that she had no intention of going to the wedding. She didn't want to see Ezra getting married, she liked her silly delusions of one day being with him. And so she drove Alison down to Rosewood, It was an hour long drive but she didn't care. Alison didn't speak to her and had instead fallen asleep so she was able to gather her thoughts.

Soon enough she had drove into the picturesque town where she had spent the majority of her childhood and teenage years, she smiled a little before dropping Alison off at her house before saying her good-byes. As she drove through town, her heart jumped a beat remembering all the little moments and inconsequential details of being here. And then she drove past snookers and felt her heart beat faster and faster with every passing moment.

Ezra Fitz stood in the church, he had made a decision. The decision was Grace, he couldn't break her heart. But before he had made his decision he had wanted to see Aria but she didn't answer any of his calls and was currently not here. He sighed, and then walked over to where her friends were sitting. "Hey, uh, you haven't, by any chance, seen Aria, have you?" He asked,

They all shook their head, "She's probably still in Rosewood," Noel replied, and Ezra nodded before walking away,

"Do you think she's coming?" Emily asked, worried,

"Doubt it," Hanna replied, "Can't say I blame her, I mean I love you, Caleb but there's no way in hell I'd go to Sean's wedding that'd be more than awkward," She added, shuddering even at the thought of it but she saw Caleb frown and she leant in kissing his cheek.

Spencer rolled her eyes, "The only different is that she's in love with him, and he's too much of an idiot to admit he does too," She said, as she observed him speaking to Ella amiably, she sighed and then shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

In her bridal suite, Grace O'Brien stood in her ivory white wedding dress, it was ball gown dress with a sweetheart neckline. She touched the tulle of the skirt and frowned as she looked at herself in the mirror but she couldn't help but feel as if something was wrong. Even her dress, which she had adored the night before, felt strange and made her skin itch—and shudder. Grace bit her lower lip and then put on her veil.

"Honey," Her father began, "It's time," And she felt her heart beat faster and faster, she forced a smile and took her father's hand. He led her out of the room and into the hallway of the church, she watched as her bride-maids went in one by one.

The wedding march started and Grace walked into the church, gasps and hushed whispers could be heard. She looked at Ezra who smiled at her softly, but she felt as if it wasn't her who he was looking at and then soon enough they were at the front of the church. Her father took her hand from his and placed it in Ezra's, who barely grasped it, before taking a seat next to his wife. Grace handed her bridal bouquet to her best-friend and then turned to face him.

"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honourable among all men; and therefore – is not by any – to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly – but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together – let them speak now or forever hold their peace." The vicar spoke,

Ezra listened to the vicar as he spoke, and his heart began to race. Was he entering this marriage lightly? He supposed he was, in a way he was only doing this because he didn't want to face the aftermath of if he broke her heart. His glance moved over to the door almost pleading someone to walk in and help him out. Grace looked beautiful—there was no denying that—but as he closed his eyes and opened them again he saw Aria.

His mouth fell open, and Grace looked at him, suspiciously. He blinked several times and was snapped of his daze, he gulped internally.

"Marriage is the union of husband and wife in heart, body and mind. It is intended for their mutual joy – and for the help and comfort given on another in prosperity and adversity. But more importantly – it is a means through which a stable and loving environment may be attained."

He couldn't go through with this wedding but he didn't know how to get out of it, he could be happy with Grace. They could get married, and live in a white picket house and eventually have 2 children. An American dream, if there was one but it frightened him—to live a life so terribly mundane and without passion.

"Through marriage, Ezra and Grace make a commitment together to face their disappointments – embrace their dreams – realize their hopes – and accept each other's failures. Ezra and Grace will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together – through mutual understanding – openness – and sensitivity to each other."

He tilted his head to the door once more and then looked at Grace, she sighed as she looked at him. His facial expression spoke words, "I can't go through with this," He whispered, the vicar immediately stopped speaking and looked at him. Everyone watched him curiously as he spoke to her, she lifted her veil over her head and nodded.

"I know, me too" She said, in a low whisper. "It's Aria, isn't it?"

Ezra didn't reply, and looked down before nodding "And, what about you?" He asked,

"It just doesn't feel right," Grace replied, shrugging and shaking her head, "It had at one point but it no longer does," She added,

"What do we do?" He asked, motioning to the guests.

Grace smiled, mischievously, "What any mature adults, in their mid-thirties, would do; RUN!" She said grabbing his hand, and then rushed out of the church with her train following her, he looked at her still in shock as to what happened. He looked at her in awe and then smiled placing a kiss on her forehead, a smile tugged on her lips and she hugged him. And against his chest, she mumbled "I want you to tell her you love her, I want you to make a big scene and never let her forget that you do."

He nodded, a lump formed in his throat and he sighed, "I will, Gracie, you're an amazing woman I hope you know that and one day you'll find a man who's perfect for you in every single inconsequential aspect," He said, softly.

She pulled away, "Oh I know that, I'm actually going to call John when I get back home," She joked, referring to her ex-boyfriend, "Goodbye Ezra," Grace said, with a smile "I hope you'll be happy," And then she walked away from him and he walked towards a bench and took a seat.

Ezra took his phone out of his pocket and dialled a number but she wouldn't answer, he sighed and leaned his body weight on his knees. Spencer walked out of the church with the girls following her, they walked over to him.

"Okay, what the hell was that?!" Hanna asked, "Fitz, in case you weren't aware of running away from your wedding etiquette but you're not allowed to just leave without so much as a word," She said, wide-eyed, as she looked at the man.

"I'm sorry, Hanna" He replied, "I'll try to do better next time," He retorted, rolling his eyes.

Spencer felt her phone buzz, "Okay she's still in Rosewood," She said, as she read his text. Ezra furrowed his eye-brow in confusion, "Wait, she's replying to your text. She's not answering my calls," He asked, somewhat offended.

"Probably because she thinks you're married, dumbass" Hardy said, loudly. Ezra turned around both his and her friends there, he rolled his eyes "Oh, and Wren you owe me fifty bucks." He said, as he looked at his friend who glared at him.

"Were you guys betting on whether I'd be married or not?" Ezra asked,

"Perhaps," Wren replied, sheepishly.

Ezra licked his bottom lick nervously and took his suit jacket off, "I need to speak to Aria, I'm going to Rosewood," He said, and then unbuttoned his sleeves

"OKAY!" Hanna said, clapping her hands together. "We'll come with you, the girls are going with Ezra. Boys, you can go with the Montgomery's. They have the biggest car and then one of you have to explain to them what is going on."

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "Hanna, I was actually hop—," He was about reply but she widened her eyes as a warning, "Okay, come on, let's go." He said and walked towards his car.

"We're going to Rosewood?" Wren questioned, and Hardy shrugged, nodding.

It took a whole hour half and a half before they arrive in the suburban town of Rosewood, as soon as they drove past the town limits sign he felt his heart race. The entire drive he thought of what he was going to say—and, of course, dodged Hanna's inappropriate questions.

"Okay, you can breathe now, Mr Fitz" Emily said, and then her eyes widened as she realized she had called him that. She supposed being back in Rosewood made her feel as though he was still her English teacher and he would be lying if he said he didn't feel the slightest bit awkward, "I'm so sorry!"

Ezra smiled at her through the rear view mirror, "It's okay, Ms Fields." He teased,

"Have you planned what you're going to say?" Hanna asked,

He shrugged, "I'm hoping that once I see her the words will just flow," He replied, "It has before," He said, in a low whisper. His clandestine affair with Aria during her junior year was still on grey grounds regarding her friends.

"Mike says she's not at their house, he said she was but left like half an hour ago for drinks," Spencer said, as she read through the text

Hanna raised her eyebrow in wonder, "Then she must be at the brew, right?" She asked, the girls all shrugged and Ezra stopped the car parking on the sidewalk, he smiled a little as he thought of the place they first met. She had, on several, occasions in the past year told him that it was her favourite bar in Rosewood; isolated and small.

"I, uh, I think I know where she is," Ezra replied, with a grin, as he looked back at the girls, "And I'm going to go and see if I'm right," He said, opening the car door and getting out, ignoring Hanna's words of encouragement which were a little odd.

Whilst he walked down the roads of Rosewood, Ella and Byron were seated in their car alongside five other boys. She was frustrated, understandably. In the past two hours, they all explained to them what the story behind Aria and Ezra's relationship was which they responded to quite negatively, Byron had his fair share of slurs thrown against Ezra, and Ella couldn't possibly understand why, at twenty-three, he would get into a relationship with his high-school English student.

Needless to say, they had a few questions to ask both their daughter and former colleague.

"She was sixteen years old for crying out loud," Byron muttered to himself as he clutched the steering, "How did he not know?"

Noel intervened, "Actually, she implied she was older so if it's anyone's fault, it's Aria's" He said,

"Yes, but then he continued with the relationship. So it's really Ezra's fault considering he was older," Hardy added, Caleb eyed the both of them curiously. They were both defended the person who they weren't closer to, he rolled his eyes "Guys, Hanna said that Fitzy is gone to woo Aria at some dingy bar and that we might as well go over to the Montgomery's and wait for them."

Wren eyed him, "Her words, not mine" Caleb explained, defensively.

Meanwhile Ezra stood in front of the bar, memories came flooding in. It was because he was at the right place, and at the right time that he had ever met the wonderful woman who later became the love of his life more than a decade. He had never thought that a place would hold so much significance for him, but this did. This was the place where his life changed completely, and for the better. He wondered whether he was doing the right thing, telling Aria he still loved her would completely change the dynamic of their relationship.

But it was something he had to do, and so he walked closer to the bar until he was close enough to open the door, and then he swung it open. But to his surprise the pretty girl, who he was madly and irrevocably in love with, wasn't sitting on the stool and the bar was isolated. Even the bartender wasn't in sight, Ezra saw a beer glass nearly empty with a lipstick stain, and he sighed as he realized she must have left.

And so, he turned around but just when he was about to leave, he heard a voice.

"Can I get vodka soda?"

Aria said, as she left the bathroom, and sat down on her seat. The bartender nodded, and made a very rare appearance towards the bar. He slid the glass down the counter and she stopped it from falling with her hand, she handed him the bill and watched as he walked away. She hadn't noticed Ezra, she barely noticed anything. Being here was hurting her, it just reminded her of all the time that had passed and everything she had lost.

She sighed, and then he sat down on one of the stools beside her. He tilted his head, and then spoke, "Are you alright down there?" His voice was slightly shaky, probably due to the nerves, he watched as her face was mixed with several different emotions.

Her mouth fell open and the glass she was holding fell onto the counter spilling some of the beverage, she gulped and turned positioned her body so she was facing him. He looked at her, with a smile and then sat down a couple of seats closer to her.

"Ezra …" Aria said, softly, and then absent-mindedly reached her hand upwards and touched his cheek. Abruptly, she pulled it away, "Uh, what are you doing here?" She said, moving her glance over to her vodka soda and picking the glass up drinking the remainder,

He didn't know exactly what to do, this was unchartered territory for him as was many things to do with Aria, "Grace and I called off the wedding," He said, nonchalantly, and asked the bartender for a beer. Aria felt her heart began to race and she nodded, she watched as he took a sip of his beer.

The brunette bit her lower lip, she had a vague idea of why he had cancelled his wedding, and why he was here right now in Rosewood beside her but she didn't want to voice it. She wanted for him to say it, she wanted him, for once, to be blunt and bold, and so she looked at him "Why?" As soon as the words left her mouth, he smiled.

"Because we decided that we weren't compatible together … and, uh, it didn't feel right … and I'm also in love with you," Ezra said, nonchalantly, as he took a sip of his beer. She turned to face him, a small smile on her face.

"Say that again," Aria said, biting her lower lip

"I'm in love with you," He repeated, "And I don't know why it took me so long to say this but I love you, Aria Montgomery, I always have and I always will. I love you and all your quirks, I love that you can never stay away during China Town, I love that you don't mind have a lengthy argument with me on a Friday night regarding literature rather than going out to a club, I love you. All of you." He paused, "—I've always loved you even when I broke up with you, which I didn't want to do, and these past three years have honestly made me a much happier person."

A lonesome tear escaped her eye, and he wiped it with his thumb, she placed her hand on his wrist. And then she leaned in, his lips touched hers in a chaste peck. She pulled away and then looked at him, "I've waited so long to hear you say that,"

He smiled, "I'm sorry about everything—I really am," He said, looking down, she shook her head and then touched his cheek, "You know what I think? … That you spend too much time apologizing, I know what Ali di, Ezra. And I am so angry at her for putting you in a position like that,"

"Let's forget all about that—about all of the mistakes and misunderstandings and complications, let's move forward rather than remaining fixated on the past," He said, and she nodded, with a mischievous glint in her eye she whispered into his ear "Meet me in the bathroom in five," His eyes widened and he watched as she jumped off the stool and walked towards the unisex bathroom. A gulp escaped his mouth, and he smiled, shaking his head—at his luck, and fortune.

Inside the bathroom, she felt her heart beating faster and faster. She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes widening at her appearance. Her hair was messy, her mascara smudged and her lipstick had faded. After she retouched her facial appearance. Aria let out a little giggle at what had happened, she smiled a little. Everything she had wanted had come true, she had questions but she knew there was time for that later and so she just focused on now.

Five …. Four … Three … Two … One

As if on cue, the door opened on and time. He entered the bathroom, smiling, they were standing a couple of feet away from each-other. Slowly, she began to walk towards him, "I love you," She said, hesitantly, and saw his smile turn into a grin, "I love you so much,"

Aria felt him loop his arm around her waist and pull her closer, she let out a squeal and arched her back whilst wrapping her arms around his neck. Her heart began to pound faster and faster as his body pressed against her, she felt goose-bumps on her arms. His words from only a couple of moments ago echo in her head again and again, and as she looked at him—his blue eyes soften—his lips part and he leans his head down—her lips attack his, feverishly. This isn't like the kiss before—oh no, the desperation and longing they've had over the last couple of years is evident in the ways their body responds to the others. His tongue thrust into her mouth and she let out a moan.

He pushed her back towards the counter and hoisted her up so she was seated, she opened her legs and then wrapped them around his waist. The kiss grew deeper and more passionate with every passing moment, she ran her hand through his curls and his hands caressed the inside of her thigh.

And as they enjoyed each-other's company, the girls entered the bar. Spencer eyed the place, there was no one there. She turned around and shrugged as she looked at them, "I guess they must have left," She commented and they left the bar blissfully unaware of what was going on in the bathroom.

THE END ... for now at least. Let me know if you like it, please! And also I just really want to write an epliogue for this to clear things up, let me know if you would too and I'll consider writing one.

REVIEW! :)