DISCLAIMER:: not mine. still belongs to shonda and abc studios

A/N:: this is a short chapter, i know, but work has been at the forefront of my mind lately, as well as my plans for the immediate future. after last night's episode, which i considered to be one of my favorites, not just for a good ending, but also in regards to how it gave us a little more insight into arizona's character and confirmed that she's going to be sticking around for a while. so in honor of that, i was thinking about publishing this story i was going to save for the new year just a little early. what do you guys think? yes, no, maybe so? let me know.

Callie was rarely the type to be picky about her appearance. She just had this way of making the smallest effort pay off. Little make up or a lot, designer clothes or scrubs, all were just enhancements of the natural beauty she possessed. She hardly ever took the time to go over the top to make herself look good, but Erica watched as she worried in front of a mirror hanging on the closet door.

Erica knew she should be the one worried about making a good impression and a small part of her was. She wanted Callie's father to approve of her as Callie's mother already did, but she also knew he would react to her the same way regardless of how she looked. No amount of primping was going to make him forget that she was a woman. She wasn't some teenaged gentleman suitor asking his permission to take Callie to the prom; she was Callie's wife. She'd already won the heart of the princess without the consent of the king. That was all that mattered to her.

Callie turned and held up a black cocktail dress, simple but elegant.

Erica nodded. "That's beautiful Cal. Just like the last twenty three were beautiful. It's just dinner."

Callie laughed dryly as she slipped into the dress. "It's not just dinner, it's the dinner. My father holds a lot of weight in this family. What if he's not okay with this?"

Erica got up off the bed and crossed the room. She wrapped her arms around Callie's waist from behind and instantly the brunette sank back into her embrace. "We are going to go down there and get through this dinner. Your dad will like me, or he won't, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Callie smiled in the mirror at their reflection. She turned in Erica's embrace, putting a hand to Erica's cheek. A shadow came across her features. "Erica, I have something to tell you."

Erica felt her breath catch. This was the moment she'd been waiting for. It was all about the next words to come out of Callie's mouth.

"Back when I was in LA…"

A knock interrupted their conversation and Callie pulled away. Idola peeked her head in. "Sorry to interrupt my darlings, but Eduardo has requested your presence prior to when we sit down to eat. I do not think now is the proper time to keep him waiting."

Between the glares from both Callie and Erica, Idola should have deduced that now was not the right time to interrupt. But if she noticed their steely gazes, she paid no attention to them, but rather glanced expectantly between the doctors.

Finally Callie sighed and took Erica's hand, pulling her across the room. "Mama, we were trying to have a very important discussion."

"Lo siento mija, yo se." She stepped aside to let Callie and Erica past. Erica felt that melancholy feeling she'd grown accustomed to. She had finally been about to discover what was burdening Callie and now the moment was lost. Who knew when she'd get this opportunity again?

Eduardo Torres had learned from his wife many months ago that his daughter was romantically involved. All she had said on the matter at the time was that it was another doctor, a very successful one at that. Of course he had bragged to, well everyone, about his successful daughter and her successful boyfriend. Only recently, two weeks prior to be exact, had Darius let slip that his little Calliope was dating a woman. When he had confronted Idola about it, she said she hadn't really noticed the woman part and that it didn't matter to her. At first he had been appalled at her lack of moral standards and that she had kept such a huge detail from him. But as the two weeks had worn on she had convinced him that Calliope was happy, happier than she had ever been with that little weasel George O'Malley. He was still apprehensive, but he was civil, and he was open to the idea.

Calliope entered the parlor first and he only had eyes for her. He was aware of the woman standing by the door, but he didn't look at her, merely embraced his daughter when she ran to his arms. He instantly flew back in time to the days when she come down from her room as he arrived home from work and greet him with kisses all over his face and a huge hug. They had been that close once. Now, she pulled away all too quickly and rushed back to the woman by the door.

He was forced to look at her now. She was confident, a quality he admired instantly. She didn't back down when faced with a challenge, that was good. She met his gaze and didn't waver. If she was scared, she didn't show it. Calliope grabbed her hand and closed the distance between them.

"Dad, I'd like you to meet Erica Hahn. Erica, this is my father, Eduardo Torres." Calliope looked from him to her, hope with a mix of fear in her eyes. She was begging him to be okay with this. He didn't want to disappoint her, but he also wasn't quite sure he was okay with this either.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Torres, Callie talks about you often." Erica extended a hand smoothly for him to shake.

After a moment's hesitation, he shook it. She hadn't quivered, hadn't called him sir. He would like this woman if she wasn't dating his daughter. He would approve of their friendship, but their relationship was an entirely different story.

He gestured for Erica to take a seat and had to hide a frown when Calliope sat next to her on one of the small couches, very close. She kept her hand tangled with the blonde woman's.

"Would you like anything to drink?" He walked to a wet bar in the corner of the room and pulled out several bottles of liquor.

"We'll just wait for dinner dad." Callie looked at Erica and shook her head to silence her.

"Suit yourself." He poured himself a glass and downed it.

"Dinner is ready." Idola appeared as if to ease the tension. She frowned at her husband, who was pouring himself another glass, but smiled at the girls. "Come on my darlings, we don't want anything getting cold."