A/N - Happy Wednesday peoples, I know I don't usually post midweek but I am off this week and have been writing all day today so thought I would treat you all.

Plus I'm in a good mood because I went to the horse racing yesterday and won 4 out of 6 races so I'm quid's in and in a very happy mood.

Most of you guessed right... our mystery guest is... ARIA! I wouldn't be so cruel as to bring Earl back... yet! his chapters are coming.

just as an FYI, I am in the middle of writing chapter 44 so there's still quite a bit of this story to go.

Anyways, enjoy the chapter and as always, please take a minute of your time to drop me a review of pm.

AL xx

-oOo-

"Aria, I thought you couldn't make it" Callie asked nervously, unsure by what she was going to be met with. Her little sister was notorious for being a brat at times.

"Well my plans changed, sorry I'm late" Aria had the good grace to look ashamed of herself.

"I'm glad you're here hermosa" Callie smiled softly at her sister who glanced up at Callie with watery eyes.

"Its been a while Cal" Aria said with a little bit of a bite in her mouth.

"Guys why don't we take this inside?" Arizona commented as all eyes were on the two sisters.

"Yeah lets" Aria said not particularly wanting to be the centre of attention for once.

The three women walked into the house and stopped in the kitchen, nobody saying a word.

"Come on guys you haven't seen each other in over three years, surely you have something to say to each other" Arizona asked exasperated by the two stubborn women.

"I'm sorry" They both said at the same time, then scoffed at their timing.

"Aria, you have to believe me I never meant for any of this to happen" Callie started, the guilt consuming her.

"I know... I just... you disappeared and I needed my big sister and she wasn't there anymore" Aria admitted as she played with her fingers unable to look up into her big sisters eyes.

"I wanted to be there more than anything but Earl, he had me locked in a house with no way to get out or call for help. I was a prisoner Aria... please believe me that I am so sorry that I missed out on so much of your life" Callie asked as tears streamed down her face.

"Arizona called me this morning, tore a strip off me actually" Aria confessed. "I've been such a selfish asshole making this all about me. I should have been there when you were found, I should have come running but my stupid pride wouldn't allow me to think of what you needed, only what I needed and I am so sorry. I know you will probably never forgive me but for what its worth... I am sorry" Aria said with a bitter smile as she held back her own tears with effort.

"Hermosa, there is nothing to forgive, you are here now and that is all that matters" Callie smiled softly as she wiped at her tears with the back of her hands and sniffled.

"Do you really mean that?" Aria asked unsurely.

"I mean it, me and little miss would be proud to have you back in our lives" Callie said as her hand found her bump and stroked it softly.

"It's a girl?" Aria asked with a look of amazement on her face.

"It is... do you, do you want to feel?" Callie asked. When Aria nodded she stepped forward and took her hand and placed it over her bump where she could feel the very soft flutter beneath her palm.

"I'm going to be a Tia" Aria grinned as she stared at Callie's bump before raking her eyes to meet her sisters, eyes that matched her own but held so much fear, darkness and uncertainty. "I'm going to be the best Tia ever, I promise Cal"

"I know you are, come here you little brat" Callie smiled as she pulled her little sister into a hug.

"Ok now I know you two aren't going to kill each other, I'm going to head back to the party... just come on out when you are both ready" Arizona smiled at the embrace the two sisters were in.

Callie opened her eyes and her gaze met blue cerulean eyes. She mouthed the words 'thank you' to her best friend who offered her a wink before she left the two sisters to it.

-oOo-

Arizona made her way outside and grabbed a beer from the cooler before glancing around the garden and all the people she knew and loved, and Callie's new friends whom she had not met before today but had heard a lot about. She felt a sense of calmness surround her. Other than the Earl obstacle everything was falling into place.

The two sisters were inside catching up which had been no small feat. She had of course kept in contact with Aria over the past few years, after all she was a little sister to the three of them; her, Callie and Tim. But Aria had been particularly grumpy over her sisters disappearance and this morning she had snapped at her and told her under no certain terms that if she missed today then she would regret it for the rest of her life and life was too short for regrets. She had said a few choice unsavoury words to the younger Torres that hadn't gone down very well before Aria had hung up on her and she had thought it had all been for a lost cause, but obviously what she had said had gotten through that stubborn brain of hers as she had shown up regardless.

Making her way into the crowd she was stopped by Lucia who pulled her into an embrace. "I don't know what you did or said to make this happen but thankyou Arizona" Lucia said tearfully.

"It was nothing, it was Aria's choice to be here. I just gave her a nudge in the right direction" Arizona offered into the motherly hug.

"I know my daughter's, they are as stubborn as sin so for whatever you said to make her come here... I truly thank you with all of my heart" Lucia said as she pulled back from the embrace to look Arizona in the eyes, her hands resting on the paler womans elbows.

"All that matters is that Callie has another person in her corner, she's going to need everyone she can get behind her over the next few weeks" Arizona smiled softly.

"You know, you always take such good care of our Calliope. I know that she is a long way off from having a relationship with anyone but I want you to know that if she was going to choose anyone, then I'm rooting for you, I always expected her to come home one day and announce that she had fallen in love with the girl next door... I'm still hoping that happens because no one will take care of my little girl the way you do"

Arizona's heart was in her mouth. What the hell did she say to that. Did Lucia know that she had been harbouring feelings for her eldest daughter since she was seven? Did Lucia know that Callie was Arizona's first kiss? Did Lucia know something about Callie that she hadn't shared with her? Hell did Lucia even know that Callie classed herself as bisexual. The conversation had never come up between the two best friends so she had no idea if Lucia knew any of these things but right now what she did know is that she felt like her heart was on her sleeve for everyone to see and she didn't like that feeling.

"Robbins come over here" Mark interrupted and in that moment Arizona could have kissed him.

"I should head over there Lucia" Arizona said, turning her attention back to Callie's mother.

"Go and have fun, you work too hard" Lucia squeezed her elbows before letting go of her and nudging her towards her resident.

"Robbins, what did you get baby Torres, I didn't see any gifts from you" Mark asked around his scotch.

"Well Sloan, as god mother I will be showering little miss at every opportunity I get, I don't need a reason to buy her gifts" Arizona smirked.

"God mother, no way... that's fantastic" Mark beamed at his protégé. Arizona returned the smile before her eyes moved above his head and a dreamy smile crossed her face. "Let me guess, Torres is back?" Mark asked knowingly, Arizona quickly glanced back to him with a guilty expression in her eyes. "You should tell her"

"Tell her what?" Arizona whisper yelled.

"You and I both know what you need to tell her, I'm not going to say it with so many people who could over hear, it's not my place. But trust me when I say... that dreamy look on your face... I've seen it before in Cal's face when she talks about you. It's not one sided" Mark said carefully.

"After everything she has been through the last thing on her mind is getting into a relationship. I doubt she will ever be ready to get into a relationship... these feelings... they will go away" Arizona admitted as she dumped into a chair next to him, grabbed his scotch and took a sip, grimacing at the burning sensation that followed.

"You will never know unless you say something" Mark said wisely.

"Maybe... but one thing I do know is that she deserves the world and I'm not good enough to give her that, I'm practically married to my job, I don't have the time available to dedicate the time she would need and look at her, she's way out of my league" Arizona pouted.

"I think your exactly what she needs. Shes always looking for you or talking about you. That girl loves and adores you..."

"Yeah, as her best friend" Arizona interrupted.

"Maybe... but you won't know unless you ask. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day you're going to have to put on your big girl pants and tell her how you feel, you might be surprised to find out you're not the only one feeling that way" Mark smiled as he took his glass back and drained it.

-oOo-

The rest of the day went by without any hiccups. Aria had followed her sister out into the garden and had cracked open a bottle of tequila, pouring one for each guest and toasting to her unborn niece, Callie had taken a shot of water so not to feel left out, but truth be told she would have killed for just one tequila.

Tim had put some music on which had gotten everyone dancing as the half-cut guests got into the swing of the party.

Callie had dumped herself on her usual chair claiming she didn't dance, and after dancing with Tim and Claire for a few songs Arizona had joined her, bringing her a glass of sparkling apple juice.

"Thanks blondie" Callie smiled at her best friend warmly.

"Anytime Loco" Arizona smiled back. "So everything's good with Aria now?"

"Yeah, we had a good chat, I explained a bit of what it had been like with Earl and she told me she felt so guilty for thinking I would leave her on purpose. She told me all about business school and how Daddy had offered her a position in the company to get some work experience... I think we are good" Callie explained.

"Good, that's good" Arizona patted her knee affectionately, Mark and Lucia's words running through her mind.

"Arizona, can I ask you something?" Callie asked nervously.

"Always, what's on your mind" Arizona swallowed, had Callie over heard the conversation and was about to ask about it. No, she was in the house when Lucia had said what she said, and was too far away when Mark had said what he had. There was no way she could know.

"Well, you know how I asked you to be godmother?" Callie asked and waited for Arizona to nod her head. "Well I was wondering, since you've been at every ultrasound and appointment with me... would you, I mean you can say no if you want there is no pressure I was just thinking..."

"Calliope your rambling" Arizona interrupted.

"Would you be my birthing partner" Callie breathed out in rapid succession. It took Arizona a moment to decipher what the brunette had said but when she did a huge smile graced her face.

"I would love nothing more than to be there when you give birth" Arizona beamed.

"You would?" the brunette asked nervously.

"Absolutely... can I cut the cord? I've always wondered what it would be like the cut the cord" Arizona sang happily.

"Yes you can cut the cord... god I'm so glad you said yes" Callie grinned.

"As if I would ever say no to you, but don't you want your mum to be in there with you?"

"Nah, she can sit in the waiting room and keep dad and Aria calm.