"Are you ready for tonight?" Callie asked quietly. She and Aria were eating lunch in Rosa's room while Rosa slept during the day of the Seattle Grace Donor Dinner. "I know neither one of us is a big fan of public speaking."

Aria smirked. "I'm not as bad as you are, Cit. I promise I won't embarrass you by doing my pee-pee dance in front of the crowd."

"That was one time!"

"Yeah, one time that is burned in my memory! Do you know how mortifying it is to watch your badass older sister bounce around on stage like that? In front of my med school class? No, thank you. I'll do my freaking out beforehand, but I will rock the presentation. Just you watch."

"Are you making the other doctors do most of the speaking?"

"You bet your ass I am."

Callie laughed. "How do you feel about seeing Kelly tonight?" Aria had filled her sister in on all the latest drama. Callie was being careful to walk the line between being supportive while also trying to convince Aria to let Cynthia have a chance to explain.

"I mean, I don't feel great about it. But Drew, Shelly, and Frankie all know about her latest antics, so they're going to do their best to run interference."

"Do they all know why you and Kelly broke up?"

Aria shook her head. "Only Drew knows about any of that." Determined to change the subject, Aria asked, "Are you still freaking out about your first public date with a lady?"

"I'm not freaking out. And it's not my first public date with…" She lowered her voice to a whisper and glanced at Rosa to make sure the woman was still sleeping. "Arizona."

"You can't even say it out loud, Callie. Why does it freak you out so much? You like her a lot. You ramble about her all the time."

Callie shrugged. "I don't know. It's just not what I thought my life was going to be, you know? And add to that the fact that this is a work function, so all our coworkers will be there. Plenty of them don't like me. It would be like Owen finding out that you date women...that would be weird, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"You two have never gotten along. What if he found out that you date women? It's just one more thing for him to needle you about."

Aria shook her head. "Owen knows."

"What?"

"Owen has known for years. I'm a little surprised he never told you."

"Why does Owen know anything about your love life?"

"He was at The Cottage one time and saw me with Jess. It was pretty obvious we were, you know, more than just friends. I didn't even realize he was in the bar until Jess brought me a drink and told me it was from the red-headed guy behind me. I must have looked shocked when I turned around, but he just lifted his glass to me and went back to talking to his buddy. We never talked about it, but he knew."

"Huh."

"So, here's what that tells me. Even though I don't agree with the man or enjoy his company very much, he's still a decent human being and knows that who I have the capability to love has nothing to do with anything. People who actually care about that stuff are jerks and you don't need to pay them any mind."

"Mom and Dad are people who actually care about that stuff. The rest of the family too. That's hard to shake off."

"Well...Uncle Berto is on our side."

"Wait...really?"

"Uh...yeah. His roommate of ten years? They're not just good friends, Callie."

Callie sat back in her chair and pondered this new information. "Huh."

"You know who you should talk to about this?"

"Who?"

Aria gestured to the woman sleeping in the bed between them.

"Nanny Rosa? No way."

Aria shrugged. "She was the first person I ever came out to. She's heard every sordid detail of my love life and has never judged. She is family and loves us no strings attached. There are people on your side, Callie." Aria's pager started blaring from her hip and she glanced at it before standing up. "I've gotta go. Just remember, lean into the good feelings. The rest doesn't matter. Do me a favor-picture yourself dancing with Arizona at the dinner tonight." She waited for the predictable smile to spread across Callie's face. "That. Focus on that feeling. Gotta go!"

The pager had woken up the older woman and Rosa started to stir as Aria left the room. She smiled at Callie as her eyes fluttered open. "I like having my two girls around me again. I missed you kids."

"We're not kids anymore, Nanny." Callie smiled at the woman affectionately.

"I know, I know. My Calliope is all grown up and married with kids of her own. I'm proud of you, mija."

"Nanny...can I talk to you about something?"

"You can talk to me about anything, child."

Callie nervously played with her hands and scooted her chair closer to the bed, taking the woman's outstretched hand. "I'm getting a divorce."

Rosa's face screwed up in thought. "That's sad. The end of a marriage is always a little sad." She tugged on Callie's hand until she looked up at her. "But is it a good thing?"

Callie sighed in relief. "Yeah, it is. I'm choosing to be happy. And I'm choosing to protect my children. It's not that he's a bad man…"

"Shhh, child. I know of his troubles. I don't judge. War is hard."

Nodding, Callie swallowed. "I don't think we were ever really in love, Nanny. We both wanted a family, and we gave each other that, but nothing else."

"And your family is quite the gift, Calliope. It's okay to reshape the parental unit when necessary."

"Do you really believe that? I thought divorce was forbidden?"

"Ach." Rosa waved her hand in the air in disgust. "The church has not caught up to the way real people are."

"Speaking of things the church hasn't caught up with…"

Rosa waited patiently as Callie gathered her thoughts. "Mija?"

"I...um. There's a…"

"Mija." Rosa waited until Callie looked up at her. "You can tell me what's on your mind or you can not tell me. But either way, whatever is troubling you is still going to be true. And you might feel better if you tell your old nanny."

Callie chuckled. Her childhood had been full of these nuggets of wisdom coming from the older woman. She took a moment to be grateful for the strong women in her life and in her family. She hoped that her own daughter grew up to be just as brilliant and kind and loving. Callie decided to be strong like her sister and took a deep breath. "I've started dating a woman, Nanny. Her name is Arizona and she's a doctor at this hospital. She's...incredible. Funny and smart and sexy." Callie blushed. "She saves babies."

Callie couldn't bring herself to look at Rosa, so she stared down at her shoes. Moments passed before Callie felt Rosa's other hand come to rest on top of hers so that Callie's hand was sandwiched in between both of Rosa's. "Child. Look at me."

Callie shook her head.

"Mija. She sounds wonderful."

Letting out a shaky breath, Callie glanced up at Rosa.

"I always wondered about you."

"What...what do you mean?"

"Your sister? No question. She had a huge heart and ran after attention from anyone she could find. When she told me she liked both men and women; not a surprise. But you...I wondered."

"Wondered...if I liked women?"

Rosa nodded. "Do you remember Sally Steadman from down the road? You were always so protective of her. So I wondered."

"I...I had a crush on Sally Steadman?"

"You didn't know?"

"You did?!" Callie jumped out of her seat and started pacing the room.

"Child, I know it's not an easy road. But you have to chase your happiness. Does she make you happy?"

Thinking back to the time she had spent with Arizona and the warm feeling that she always got in her chest just from being around the bubbly blonde woman, Callie nodded.

"Then I like her. But I want to meet her. You sweep her off her feet tonight and tomorrow, bring her to meet me before my surgery."

Callie smiled and nodded, knowing it was always best to do what nanny said.

Just then, Mark poked his head in the door. "Torres, I got a limo for tonight. Leaving the hospital at 6pm sharp. You in?"

"A limo?"

"We've gotta show up in style."

"Who's it for?"

"Me, Addison, you, Robbins, Little Torres, her two doctor friends, and Rogers. I don't care how anyone else gets there, so I didn't invite them."

"Did you ask Aria about inviting Cynthia?"

"Nope. Just wanted to see what would happen."

Rosa chuckled again. "I like him. He's mischievous."

Mark grinned at the older woman. "I'll see you in the limo, Torres."

Hours later, Aria and Callie were in Callie's office finishing up their makeup for the evening. "It's just like being a Torres teenager all over again isn't it?" Callie asked, looking in the small mirror she had sitting on her desk and finishing her eyeliner.

"I've been to enough of these kinds of things to last a lifetime. I didn't think I'd have to keep doing them once I became a doctor."

Callie laughed. "Well, at least you've had plenty of practice. I don't envy people who walk into something like this cold. Your coworkers look like the type to get eaten alive by donors."

Aria snorted. Both women turned to look when a knock came on the door and Arizona peeked her head in. "The limo should be here any minute, ladies." She stepped into the room and Callie's mouth immediately went dry.

Aria smirked at her sister and stood, smoothing out the lines of her dress. "You look beautiful, Arizona. I'll meet you both downstairs." She brushed past the other woman and turned at the last minute to wink at her dumbfounded sister, leaving Callie and Arizona alone in the office.

"Calliope, you're wearing that red dress again."

Callie cleared her throat and fluffed her hair absentmindedly. "Well, you did seem to like it last time, and you mentioned wanting to see it again, so…" She let her eyes roam the other woman. "You look incredible, Arizona."

Wearing her favorite blue dress that brought out the color of her eyes, Arizona smiled. "This old thing?"

Callie swallowed hard as Arizona took a step towards her and reached out to straighten the necklace she was wearing. The feeling of Arizona's fingers on her bare skin made her flush hot. Having the shorter woman so close was going to her head and Callie couldn't stop herself from leaning down and kissing Arizona's lips slowly. When she pulled back, Arizona had her eyes closed and a bright smile flashed across her face.

Arizona's eyes opened and she took a breath. "We should get downstairs."

"Why?"

"The limo."

"Let them wait." Callie reached out a tentative hand and brushed her fingertips along Arizona's bare arm. "You really do look amazing tonight."

Arizona flushed and grinned. "We make a really hot couple, don't you think?" Arizona was surprised at Callie's boldness, but attributed it to being alone in her office. She knew the other woman was feeling some trepidation about their evening, but right now she couldn't find that fear anywhere on her date's face. "We really should get downstairs, though. I don't want to be the reason the limo leaves late."

"Always a military brat, huh?"

Arizona bumped her hip into Callie's. "Punctuality is not a bratty attribute, Dr. Torres." She looped her arm through the taller woman's and guided them out the door. "Now give me something to hold onto. I don't wear the prosthetic with the high heels very often."

Aria got to the bottom of the staircase and spotted Mark standing by the front doors, along with Addison, Drew, and Shelly. She stopped short when she noticed Cynthia was also walking towards the group and groaned. The other woman looked incredible. She had been hoping Mark was joking when he said she'd be getting in the limo with them. Aria wasn't sure she was ready to be in such close quarters when Cynthia was wearing such an incredible black dress that hugged her in all the right places. She had been working hard to avoid the woman all week. It had been easy enough to squirrel herself away in the lab while working on the presentation, but Cynthia had proven to be persistent. Aria had given her plenty of opportunity to write her off and run the other way, but Cynthia was stubborn. Aria could feel her defenses crumbling by the day.

Chief Grey stood at the top of the stairs and gestured for Aria to come up once she caught the young surgeon's attention.

"Dr. Torres, join me in my office for a moment please," Chief Grey requested as Aria walked up the stairs. They entered her office and Grey gestured to a chair, so Aria sat.

"Are you ready for your presentation tonight?"

"Yes, Chief. We've been working on it all week with Dr. Chang."

"Excellent." Ellis sat down behind her desk. "I assume that you are as well versed with donors as your sister is? Considering your father…"

Aria smiled tightly. "I am no stranger to schmoozing wealthy and powerful people, Chief. That's true."

"And I trust you're also no stranger to the Rockford Hotel?"

"I was at the ribbon cutting representing the Torres family many moons ago. Callie and I are both very familiar with the Rockford."

Ellis nodded once. "I'm glad to hear it. Seattle Grace has received a generous amount of funding for our cardiology department from your father's company...Can I assume we'll be receiving the same support for orthopedics now that you work here?"

"Excuse me?"

"I'm simply trying to figure out our benchmark for the evening. If we can count on a generous donation from your father, then our goal for tonight is much lower."

"No-" Aria interrupted. "No, I don't believe you'll be receiving the same support for orthopedics, Chief Grey."

"Pity. Is Carlos planning a visit soon? I'm sure you'd be happy to give him a tour of your laboratory and show him the work you are doing."

"Ah...I really couldn't say, Chief. He's a busy man, but you could always give his assistant a call. She knows his schedule and plans much better than I do."

Ellis waved a hand in the air. "Dr. Torres has always arranged his visits. You can just give him a call."

"Maybe Callie can reach out."

"But your father…"

Aria stood up quickly. "My father and I don't have the same relationship that he and my sister do, Chief. I'm sorry you can't count on the same support for my department." Aria could feel tears pricking the backs of her eyes and fought to remain calm and composed in front of the Chief. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get to the car before my group leaves without me."

She quickly excused herself from the Chief's office and back downstairs to the main doors. She saw everyone getting in the limo and stepped into the cool night air to join them. "Little Torres! About time you showed up!" Mark exclaimed, clapping her on the back. "You clean up real nice, roomie." He sent her a wink and bent to get into the limo, where everyone but Cynthia was already sitting.

Cynthia turned at the door and spotted Aria's face, which she was trying to school into a calm expression. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Aria tried to force a smile but couldn't get her lips to cooperate as they trembled.

"Are you okay?"

"Nope. Let's go." Aria stepped in front of Cynthia and climbed into the limo, sliding into the empty back seat. With nowhere else to sit, Cynthia slid in next to her, careful to keep some space between them.

Cynthia watched as Drew turned to Aria, his face flashing a look of concern. "You okay?" he whispered.

Aria waved a hand in the air and shook her head. "Just nervous is all."

"We're gonna kill it, Torres. Don't worry." Drew patted her knee affectionately and turned back to Shelly and Addison to continue their previous conversation.

Cynthia watched Aria closely as the limo made its way through the Seattle streets. The other doctor was chatting absentmindedly with the other people in the car, but Cynthia could tell she was putting on an act. She could see the surgeon's hands begin to shake any time the conversation died down.

Arriving at the hotel, Cynthia was the first one out of the car. She waited off to the side until Callie emerged and pulled the taller woman aside. "Is Aria okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"She seemed upset before she got in the limo."

Callie lifted one shoulder. "She's not a fan of public speaking. She's probably just nervous."

"I think it's more than that."

Callie glanced over to where her sister was standing with Drew and Shelly as Frankie and his girlfriend approached the group. Aria threw her arms around Frankie and greeted his girlfriend with a big hug as well. "She looks okay now."

Arizona walked up to the pair and linked her arm through Callie's. "Shall we go inside?" She linked her other arm through Cynthia's and started leading the group towards the front doors of the hotel. "Stop looking at her like a lost puppy, Cynthia. You've gotta give her time to come to you."

"I'm not looking at her like a lost puppy!"

"You kind of are," Callie interjected.

"Calliope, how is Rosa doing?" Arizona decided to spare her friend and change the subject.

"She's recovering really well. We have one more surgery scheduled for tomorrow, and then she'll be able to get back home to her sister. And I'm sure my parents are missing her at home too."

"She still lives with your family?" Cynthia asked. "Don't nannies usually get laid off once the kids move out?"

Callie chuckled. "She still does some housework and cooking for my parents. Obviously, not as much now, but they keep her on staff and give her a place to stay because she's family."

Cynthia turned to Arizona and muttered, "On staff?" Arizona just shrugged as they made their way into the ballroom. Cynthia looked around the room and her mouth dropped open. "Whoa."

"Haven't you ever been to one of these things before?" Callie asked.

Cynthia shook her head. "I'm not important enough and ortho has never had anything groundbreaking happen under Chang for us to brag about."

"The Rockford is really impressive," Arizona stated. She had been included in multiple dinners since becoming a department head and always looked forward to an evening in the grand ballroom.

"It's a great space," Callie commented. "It's got everything you need." She pointed around the room, "Coat check, catering through there, a prep room back there for the presenters, a dancefloor, and that chandelier," she concluded while pointing up towards her favorite light fixture in the room.

"You seem pretty well versed, California."

Shrugging, Callie tried to play off how much she did, in fact, know about the room. "I've had to present my own work at a couple of these things. I know my way around."

"Okay, fancy-pants. If you ladies will excuse me, I'm going to go check in with Chang so he knows I'm making my obligatory appearance." Cynthia untangled herself from Arizona's arm and made her way through the crowd. She had noticed the presenting doctors, including Aria, heading into the prep room that Callie had pointed out. Drew, Shelly, and Frankie had all since wandered from the room but Cynthia hadn't seen Kelly or Aria come out yet.

Aria was thankful for her friends most of the time, but she could not believe that they had left her in the room alone with Kelly when each of them had promised to help keep them apart. She blamed it on their nerves and tried to busy herself with putting her index cards in order, hoping Kelly would get the hint and leave.

"I hear you're single again, Torres."

No such luck. "Thanks to you, from what I hear."

Kelly's eyes widened in faux innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Aria's grip on her cards tightened. This was the last thing she needed to deal with right now. She was still trying to shake off the painful conversation about her father from earlier and was struggling to maintain her composure. "I can't do this now, Kelly. Can you just go?"

"See? Always on your say-so. So used to getting anything you want that you can just dismiss people for no reason."

Turning slowly, Aria seethed, "I've told you before: keep my life out of your mouth, Kelly. You don't know what you're talking about."

Shrugging, Kelly made her way towards the door. "I know you're more at home here than anywhere else. Didn't your Daddy open this hotel, anyway? I bet there's a fancy room here named after you and everything." Kelly put one hand on the door. "You think you're so much better than the rest of us. It must be so easy to hide behind your daddy and his money." Pushing her way out of the room, Kelly rolled her eyes as she saw Cynthia standing a few feet away. Kelly grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and disappeared into the crowd.

Cynthia was sure that Aria would come out next, but the door never budged. Deciding that her worry over Aria's state outweighed the other woman's desire to be left alone, Cynthia walked up to the door and nudged it open. Not seeing anyone inside, Cynthia's eyebrows furrowed as she stepped into the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

"Kelly, I swear to go…" Aria stepped out from behind another door deeper in the room and Cynthia saw that she had tears running down her face. "Oh."

Taking a step closer to Aria out of instinct, Cynthia asked, "Did she say something to you? I will go kick her ass so hard…"

Aria shook her head as her face crumpled and she let out a sob. Trying to control herself, she closed her eyes tightly and bit her lip, but everything was bubbling up and she couldn't stop the onslaught of emotions from spilling out.

Cynthia rushed forward and gathered the other woman in her arms. "Hey, it's okay. I've got you," she whispered. "You don't have to tell me anything, okay? I'm just here. I'm here and I've got you, sweetheart." Aria tensed for a moment, before sagging against Cynthia and letting go. Maneuvering them towards a small couch in the corner of the room, Cynthia sat them down while still holding onto Aria. She kept whispering quiet things in her ear and rubbing soothing circles on her back. Her heart was breaking for the other woman, but she knew it wasn't her place to ask what was causing this distress. All she could do was be there.

Finally, Aria's sobs quieted down and she sat up, removing herself from Cynthia's embrace but staying close enough that the other woman's hand was still resting on her back. "I'm sorry. I must look like a mess."

Cynthia rummaged in her purse until she found a tissue and passed it over to Aria. "You look beautiful. I'm kind of impressed that your makeup didn't budge at all. And jealous. One wrong allergy attack and I look like a racoon."

A small laugh bubbled up from Aria. "It's Callie's makeup. She buys the good stuff." She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes with the tissue. "I'm so sorry...that was…"

Cynthia took Aria's hand in her own and squeezed it. "You really don't have to tell me anything. I'm just glad you weren't alone for that."

Aria looked up at the other woman gratefully. "Thank you." She cleared her throat and stood up, checking her makeup in the mirror and pulling out some things from her purse for a quick touch up.

Aria was saved from having to explain any further when the door opened and Drew poked his head in. "Torres, Chief Grey wants to start introducing us around and then get us ready for the presentation. Let's go." He glanced over at Cynthia before he backed out of the room and shut the door.

A.N: Thank you again for every single favorite, follow, and especially the reviews!