Chapter 3

Callie and Mark made their way down to the dining where they were greeted with Callie's family. This included her two old brothers who were shooting daggers from their eyes at Mark.

Callie raced to her oldest brother and jumped up into his arms. Caleb Torres was beautiful. The man kind of beautiful. He stood at 6 foot 5 and had the body of a god. At the age of 38, he looked like he was in the prime of his life.

He squeezed baby sister and set her down on her feet, "Hey Calliedoll I've missed you!" he said admiring the beauty that is his sister.

Callie smiled and kissed him on the cheek, "I missed you too Cabe, even all your goofy goodness too!"

Callie turned to her other brother Cameron who was at the right age of 35, "Hey! I missed you too!" she said giving her brother a hug that lifted her off the ground. Like Cabe, Cameron was also beautiful, a little shorter than Cabe, but had the same dark locks that were curled around his head. The only difference, his piercing blue eyes that sank deep into your soul.

Cabe finally turned toward Mark, "Who's this guy?" he asked Callie.

She smiled shyly and introduced him, "This is my friend Mark Sloan, we work at the hospital together, he is a plastic surgeon." Mark shook the hand that was extended to him.

"Its really nice to meet you Cabe, Callie talks about you all the time"

He turned towards Cameron and shook his hand, "You too Cameron"

Cameron and Cabe shard similar glances as they watched Callie around Mark. They knew their sister down to the bone and knew that the way she was acting only meant one thing. This Man mean something more than just a friend.

Alejandra and Carlos made their way into the dining, and ushered their kids towards the dining table, "Well, let's eat!"

They all took their seats at the mahoganny table that sat at least twelve. Alejandra at the head of one side of the table, Carlos at the other. Cam and Cabe sat next to each other with Callie directly across from them, Mark slid in the chair right next to her.

They started with a prayer that was led my Mrs. Torres and a feast of food was brought of the swinging doors that lead from the kitchen. Anything that he could have imagined was on that table tonight.

Conversion was light while they ate, catching up with the siblings, sharing old Christmas stories that Mark found oddly amusing. When dessert was served Cabe turned to Mark,

"How did you meet my sister?" Mark chuckled at the memory and decided it wasn't best to share that info with her entire family.

"We met while we were working on a case together" Mark lied with ease. Callie glanced over at him and gave him a thankful look.

"What does your family do for the holidays Mark" Mr. Torres asked.

Mark immidiently stiffened, "My family doesn't really celebrate the holidays" Callie grabbed his hand underneath the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"What about when you were growing up? Did you at least believe in Santa Clause?" Cameron asked stunned that a family didn't celebrate something as important as Christmas.

"My parents were rarely home when I was growing up, I was always left with a nanny, I guess I didn't really believe in Santa because I never had a chance to experience what he stood for" Cameron immidiently lowered his head as Callie sent him a glare that told him to drop the subject.

Alejandra was the first to speak up, "Well, you always be welcome in our home for the holidays Mark" Mark looked around at the family that was welcoming him with open arms.

After dinner the family retired to the Parlor Room where they all sat around on overly large couches and sat talking about different Christmas experiences.

A while later, Callie said that she was tired and was off to bed, Mark right behind her.

The rest of the Torres sat and watched as the couple left the room.

"So, how many of us think that this Friend arrangement will last" Alejandra asked the group.

None of them answered.

Upstairs, Mark and Callie finally made it up to their respective bedrooms. They looked at each other before Callie planted a kiss on Mark's cheek wishing him a good night.

Callie crawled into her bed, clad in only a purple cami and boy short panties.

She lay wishing that the feelings that were starting to brew for Mark would just go away. But even she knew, that the feelings she was feeling was going to anything but easy.

The next morning Callie was awoken by the shining sun making its way into her room. She looked over at the clock and sighed, It was Christmas Eve.

Callie knew that she couldn't keep all of her feelings bottled up, she felt like she was on the verge of exploding. She picked up her phone and dialed a familiar number she knew by heart.

After three rings Callie smiled at the voice that came on at the other line, "Addison Mongomery"

"Why Ms. Montgomery, I'm not disturbing you am I?" Addison squealed at the other end of the line and smiled at the voice of her best friend.

"CALLIE! I've missed you doll, you have to come up to L.A. to visit me!" Callie giggled and replied,

"I plan on it, anyway I have some juicy dirt" Addison waited for Callie to continue

Callie sighed and said, "I've fallen for he who must not be named" Addison was absolutely confused.

"What?" she questioned. Callie let out an exasperated breath and yelled,

"I've fallen for MARK, Addison, Get the on the boat!" Addison burst out laughing at the way Callie had practically screamed over the phone.

"Well, hun, we might as well hang up now, I believe I set some rules for you before I left, and seeing as how who broke the MOST IMPORTANT one, the consequence is are friendship" Addison told Callie rather unconvincingly.

"Oh how will I ever survive without my addiepie" Callie replied still laughing to Addison on the phone.

"That's what I'm saying, anyway, tell me how you did the unforgivable act?" Callie giggled at her best friend, she was such a dork sometimes.

"Well, after you left, we kind of just became friends, I brought him home with me for Christmas because he didn't have anywhere else to go. But seeing him with my family is doing some serious things to my insides Addison." Callie finally took a breath after telling exactly how this happened.

Addison was silent on the other side of the line for a moment before replying, "Why don't you just go for it Cal?" she asked.

"Are you kidding? A failed marriage isn't enough for me to hold back just a little? Yeah, not so much, I'm afraid that he won't feel the same, you know?"

"You may never know unless you put yourself out there hun" Callie sighed, Addison was right, Addison was always right.

"I guess, I miss you Addie" Callie said getting up to get ready for the day.

Addison giggled, "I know Cal, I miss you too, you should come up here for New Year's, I would love for you to check out L.A."

"I think I might just do that" Callie said smiling, really considering the idea.

"Okay, well let me know what you decide sweetie, you don't know until you try."

"Okay, I love you Addie"

"Love ya too Cal" And with that, Callie was going to try, whether she was ready or not.