A/N: Wow, it's been a while since I've written...but I had some down time today and needed to finish this story! I'm not going to waste any time with excuses of my absence, but I must apologize! So, I'm sorry!

Disclaimer: References to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and chapter based off the song Same Old Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg…and then it's obviously PLL…nothing is mine :(

Is this what dying feels like? When you feel as if your heart has stopped and your entire body becomes numb?

A ring? Not just any ring, but an engagement ring? Oh, no, wait...just kidding. There's a single band behind the large diamond, and that means only one thing.

Aria Montgomery, the love of my life, is married.

Yep, this is definitely what dying feels like.

My chest is heavy and I can feel the moisture of my tongue slowly dry up. My lips are chapping and I can't figure out how tell my brain to get my body functioning again. All the while, I can hear Aria repeating "Ezra?" over and over again.

Thankfully, my senses wire up and I'm able to respond stupidly with, "W-what?"

"Ezra, are you okay?" Aria asks uneasily as she places her sunglasses case back into her large purse on her shoulder. "You look a little pale..."

I scoff and playfully roll my eyes to dismiss my unusual behavior. "Never been better!"

She hesitates, "If you say so... Want to get a drink or something? You know, catch up for a bit?"

My heart leaps for joy. At least she doesn't resent me. "I'd love to."

We make our way up to the cash register and she has her products bagged quickly. The snow is falling harder and beginning to stick to the ground, piling up the white around us. "Let's take your car," Aria suggests innocently.

"One problem with that..." I say.

She's confused. "What?"

"I don't have a car," I admit sheepishly.

A small smile crosses her face. "Then we'll take mine." And she leads me across the empty parking lot to her...minivan?

But...no woman owns a minivan unless she has kids. Here comes the heavy chest again, and my feet all of a sudden seem to weigh as much as the minivan itself. However, I keep my pace alongside Aria's in order to not reveal that I'm upset. She unlocks the car and I situate myself in the passenger seat.

I hadn't noticed the backseat of the vehicle until Aria pointed it out. "Sorry for the mess. I don't have much time to keep my car clean these days."

I turn my head to peer over my shoulder and, sure enough, there's a booster seat behind my chair. Toys cover every inch of floorboard in my sight, and the smell of McDonald's fills my nostrils. I twist my body forward once more and look straight out the windshield. "It's fine."

Wordlessly, Aria puts the minivan into gear and steers her way out onto the deserted road. We travel silently for a few miles, until I recognize the Hollis campus coming into view. I immediately know which bar she's driving to, and it causes my heart to sink even lower.

Snookers, reads the large, illuminated sign above our heads. Aria still doesn't say a word as she parks, cuts the ignition, and saunters off in the direction of the bar's entrance. I reluctantly follow in suit, not completely sure if I'm ready to step foot in this establishment. It's been years.

The inside is musty and damp; not exactly the bar I remember from about ten years ago. The floors creak with every step I take, and the lights flicker on and off occasionally around the room. The cushions of the barstools are flat with no life as Aria and I seat ourselves next to one another. Everything is the same, just aged – including the juke box and the bartender.

He doesn't even bother to take our orders, but instead slides two shot glasses our way and slams an entire bottle of vodka against the counter. "Depends on how much you drink determines the price," the rusty man grumbles. "I'll be in the back if you need me."

The bartender turns on his heel clumsily and somewhat limps toward the kitchen area, grabbing a bottle of Jack Daniels before disappearing completely. By this time, Aria still hasn't opened her mouth to speak. She's worrying me; why the sudden change of attitude?

Aria grasps the bottle of clear liquid in her hand and pours some into her small glass. She doesn't dare drink it, though. Only stares at it with a creased brow. Aria inhales sharply, "She's four, almost five."

Confusion is evident on my face. "Who?"

She exhales slowly. "My daughter, Marissa." My turn to reach for the bottle. Aria continues, "That's why I lost touch after a few months. I found out I was pregnant."

I take a swig of the vodka and hiss as it leaves a burning sensation down my throat. "I see."

"She was an accident since I wasn't married. Crazy how much your life can change after a one night stand, you know?" Aria muses, not making eye contact with me at all. She's looking at anything else – the vodka, the pool table, the juke box.

"No, I wouldn't know," I reply solemnly, which makes her huff out a slight giggle. I smile because she's smiling.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Aria studies her untouched vodka, yet still refuses to drink it. "I love her to death; she's my reason for living."

Nodding toward her left hand, I ask, "You married her dad?"

Her gaze follows mine down to her ring. "Yes, I did. He asked me to, and I wasn't about to make Marissa live a life without her dad in the picture."

"Who is he?" I don't exactly want to know, but something inside me stirs and I have to.

"Holden Strauss." And it's now that she empties the shot glass in one quick motion, then reaches for the bottle again. "I would say that I love him, but I don't like to lie."

My eyes nearly pop out of my sockets in shock. She's filling her glass to the rim when I ask, "Why are you with him then?"

"Like I said, so he'd stick around for Marissa. I mean, he's a great guy and all, but we're polar opposites. When I try to read, he's always trying to get me to go outside for a bike ride. When I want to sit down and cuddle up for a classic movie, he wants to watch martial arts instead. He can't fight anymore because his heart was so close to failing, so the doctor said no more at all. He still tries to stay active by going outdoors and running, and thank goodness Marissa is playing soccer...he'll have something to concentrate on instead of me!" Aria stops abruptly, realizing how much she just rambled and confessed. "I-I'm sorry..."

I'm numb. So much information to take in at once. I can't think straight. Holden? Of all people? Really?

"He's an architect, and keeps me safe and dry. But something about our marriage will never be satisfying because I know he only proposed since he thought he had to...because I was pregnant," Aria concludes. I know she's finished from the way she downs another helping of alcohol eagerly.

"Well, despite how much you seem to dislike your husband, the years have been a friend to you. Still as stunning as ever," I tell her truthfully. She blushes and I'm pleased. "Your eyes still spark with life."

The corners of her lips tug up slightly into a weak grin. "Thank you, Holden never compliments me anymore..." Her smile suddenly disappears at the mention of her husband, so she changes the subject. "I've seen your books on display!"

I chuckle at her enthusiasm. "Really now, read any of them?"

"A few. Having a toddler is a lot of work, and I can't exactly read your work in front of my husband," she confesses shamefully. Another shot of vodka for the both of us after that comment. "From what I've read, you're as talented as you were ten years ago!"

"Well, wisdom comes with age, you know," I tease.

"No, I wouldn't know...because I'm not old like you," she fires back just as playfully, and I can't help but snort in return.

"I'm no Suzanne Collins, and my books aren't The Hunger Games, but the fan base if heavenly!" I then grimace, "Travelling is hell, though..."

Aria nods in response and silently checks her watch. "It's getting late. I need to get home and play Santa soon."

"Let's make a few toasts first," I say, refilling my shot glass three-quarters full. Aria does the same and I begin, "To innocence, as that's all your daughter will ever be in your life."

"To innocence," Aria repeats with a sad smile at the mention of her daughter and then clinks her glass to mine.

We lean our heads back and drink the vodka at the exact same time. She and I set our glasses down on the counter loudly, but Aria grabs the bottle and adds more. "I have one: to now - as your books and life are at such a high level of success!"

If only I could tell her that my life is just as miserable as hers, but I don't and proceed to tap my shot against hers. "To now."

We contort our faces into strange expressions this time. I know the alcohol is beginning to affect us both, but I have one more. "Last toast," I propose, and Aria's already filling our glasses for the final time of the night. "To time. That your relationship with your husband and family, as well as our friendship, will grow and prosper as we go on through life."

"To time."

Clink! Goodbye vodka.

And then she's looking at me with tears in her eyes. I can't tell if they're from the alcohol or my toast, but she unexpectedly throws her arms around me and buries her face into the crook of my neck. I wrap my arms around her torso instinctively.

Just like old times...in my apartment, when we'd be snuggling on the couch every Saturday, stealing kisses from one another every so often.

But now is not old times, and we're not in my apartment. We're in a bar, and she's married to a man she doesn't even love. But she has a daughter...and I honestly do believe that the little girl is Aria's only reason of living right now.

She squeezes her arms around my neck once before slowly pulling away. Aria shakes her head lightly and leans in to peck the corner of my lips sweetly. "Thank you, Ezra, for tonight."

"Anytime, Dear," I respond quietly yet lovingly. "Promise you'll keep in touch?"

Aria looks down at her feet, just like a child who has down something wrong. "Promise."

After setting a twenty dollar bill on the counter, I silently lead her back to her minivan with a protective hand on her lower back. As she places herself in the driver's seat, I remind her, "It's getting slick out here, so be careful."

"Don't you need a ride?" she inquires.

"No, I'm going to stay here for a while. Maybe finish that bottle for myself..."

Aria's eyes droop heavily. "Goodnight." And as she reverses the car, I drag my feet back toward the bar's door. However, there's a honk, so I turn back around to see Aria's window rolled down and her head sticking out in the snow. "Merry Christmas, Ezra."

I look down at my watch. 12:57 PM. It is Christmas, but when I bring my head back up...she's gone. "Merry Christmas, Aria," I whisper to the nothing but the chilly Pennsylvania air.

I stand there for a moment or two, and decide to not stay and finish off the alcohol. There wasn't a point.

And as I turn to make my way back home, the snow turns into rain.

A/N: Le complete! I'm so glad to have written again, omg! :D It felt so good to finish this story!

Okay, because of my absence, I would REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate reviews to see if y'all liked the way I ended the story. I mean, I don't like it because Ezria didn't end up together, but you know what I mean!

Please, please, please review! I want to feel missed! :(

Thanks sooo much; I missed you guys!

XxLadyStrengthxX

P.S. Roadtrip is still going to be updated, but I wanted to get this out of the way first.