Forget Me Not

Chapter 19

A/N: This entire chapter is from Ezra's POV and it may or may not make sense but try to just go with it because i think i like how this chapter panned out. There's one more left after this and perhaps an epilogue and some extra chapters after that. We'll see!

"Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it's letting go."

-Herman Hesse

Ezra

I sat silently in the car, waiting for the clock to say noon. I knew that I was supposed to be inside the courthouse already, but I couldn't bring myself to go inside. Not yet, anyways. It hurt. How could she think any of those things were true?

I even kicked Aria out. I told her to leave me alone. To let me think by myself for awhile. I think I hurt her feelings, but she wouldn't understand. She doesn't have children...and technically I didn't either, but Marley would always be my baby. My bug.

I looked over at the clock to see the time. 12:37. The battle for Marley would begin in 8 minutes. I straightened my tie and messed a little with my hair before stepping out of the car. Aria was waiting for me in the front hall with worried, puppy eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked concerned.

"Yah, I'm fine," I managed a smile and took her hand firmly in mine, leading her into our room and sitting on the left side in the front. My family lawyer greeted me with a nod as we all took our seats. I avoided looking across the aisle. I didn't want to see that grimy bastard with my Marley. I had to win. I needed to. The judge came out and sat down, putting on her glasses and opening up a file.

Roughly two hours have passed, I was sweating like crazy and I had been on the verge of tears for awhile. Marley was taken in for questioning, and that was one of the things that scared me. She has been under Toby's influence for almost four months and all I was feeling was doubt. I wouldn't have Marley, she would never be my bug again, but I wouldn't give up without a fight. Seconds later, Marley came out from the room with the judge. She had her stuffed hippo clutched tight as she ran into Toby's arms, a pang running up my chest.

"Ezra, honey." I could feel Alison trying to shake me to wake me up. My face was buried in the pillow and I was too comfortable to even react to Alison.

"Mmm."

"Ezra, it's time." I swatted her away with my hand, tossing myself to the other side of the bed so my back was against her and she would realize that it was nothing and go back to sleep. The first few times, I was up the second she shook me, but the past few weeks had become ridiculous. She would wake me up every night and tell me that little Marley was on her way, but it ended up being a false alarm every time. I was tired, extremely tired. I just wanted to get a full night's sleep, and then I would react.

"Ali, you've said that twice this week. You're probably having more contractions." I could hear Alison breathing through her mouth, trying to stop the pain. I felt her shift to get up.

"It's real this time, Ezra. My water just broke." I jumped up, our comforter flying across the room as i scattered to gather the overnight bag and baby clothes. I wasn't even paying attention to anything else.

"Ali, get in the car. I'll be down in a second." I smiled to myself. This was my baby, and I already knew she was going to be beautiful.

I let a single tear run down my face as I remembered that night, the day she was born. The day I got to hold her in my arms. When her first word was "dada" and how Alison tried to convince me I was just hearing things and she meant "mama." I felt Aria squeeze my hand, I looked over at her and smiled. Everything in my life was at stake, except for her. I knew I could always count on her and if I did end up losing Marley, she would be there for me.