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

A/N:: i once heard that all parents believe their children to be exceptionally smart. i always thought that was true. but as i sit here and watch my little boy stick his foot in his mouth and knaw on it, i retract that belief. i love him but he is doomed to be of average intelligence. but that has nothing to do with this so i shall get back to the point at hand. an update. yay! i've had chapter written out for over a week now, but sadly, work has consumed all opportunities to type up what i have. more to come.

WARNING:: this chapter includes a sexual encounter. it's not at all graphic but i felt the need to inform just in case.

They spent the night discussing the topic of honesty and the serious lack of it in their relationship. Callie knew she could no longer keep it from Erica what had transpired between her and Sebastian not only the previous day but in the past as well.

"Bastian kissed me yesterday." Okay, so maybe waiting until the last minute when they were laying side by side and Erica was just starting to doze off was not her most brilliant idea ever.

"Excuse me?" Erica sat up and looked down at Callie.

"I didn't ask him to or anything like that. There wasn't some intimate moment that deemed it appropriate. He just did it."

"And?"

Callie shrugged. "I pushed him off, he pled his case, I told him I was in love with you now, that his choice was gone, and then he left."

Erica frowned deeply and ran her fingers down the length of Callie's arm. "You say all that like it's nothing."

"That's because it is nothing."

Erica's frown seemed to deepen, her face contorting with a wave of oncoming sadness. "Is it?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Callie sat up until her eyes were level with Erica's, there faces mere inches apart.

Erica was the first to drop her gaze. "That wasn't meant to be accusational, I promise. You just… I know better than anyone that the past sneaks up on you and sometimes it's just not as simple as 'it's over'."

Callie bit her upper lip and nodded. "Bastian and I were something once. He was the first guy besides my father that I truly cared for. After high school we talked about spending the rest of our lives together. But then he got word from Greece with this amazing opportunity. He wanted to go, I didn't. I begged him to stay, promised that if he did I'd marry him right away. He walked away." Callie put a finger under Erica's chin and used it to direct the blonde's gaze back to her own. "This time it is just that simple. I want to be with one person for the rest of my life and it's not Sebastian Skedros. He made his choice a long time ago, and I for one am glad he did because that's allowed me to make mine. I love you Erica. I want to walk down the aisle and tell the world that and I want to have a family. I want it with you. The future… my future, doesn't mean anything if you're not a part of it."

Erica studied Callie's eyes intently for over a minute.

"That was a cue to kiss me, just in case you missed that." Callie smiled.

Erica couldn't help it, she smiled involuntarily. She leaned in and captured Callie's lips for a short, soft kiss.

When she pulled away Callie sighed. "Better late than never I suppose."

Erica chuckled. She laid back down and held open her arms, which Callie promptly fell down into.

"You never told me what you did all day." Callie grabbed one of Erica's hands and places a soft kiss on her palm.

"I spent the day down at the beach."

"And Aria never found you? I would have figured she'd look there first." Callie played with Erica's fingers.

"She did actually. We spent the day together, hiding from reality."

"Oh." Callie tensed momentarily but the rigidness left almost as quickly as it came. "And how was that?"

Erica smiled. "There are worse people in the world to pass time with."

"Well I'm glad you two are getting along. I thought you guys might like each other."

Erica was quite for a few moments. "She wants to marry Sebastian Cal. She thinks he might be the one."

Callie dropped Erica's hand abruptly. "She can't do that. He kissed me. I mean, not to sound arrogant, but I have this funny feeling he's not quite over me."

Erica wrapped her arms tighter around Callie and sighed. "I know, but we're treading on dangerous ground here. Women are never quick to think the worst of their men when the warning comes from someone else."

"You never want to believe the worst about the person you love. I didn't believe my suspicions about George until it was thrust right in my face."

Erica kissed the top of Callie's head. "Do you think we should tell her?"

Callie sighed. "I don't know."

"Well I'm going to leave the decision in your hands. She's your sister and you know her much better than I do."

"How can I not tell her? But… on the other hand, how do I even begin to start that conversation?"

Erica had no answers. She knew Callie didn't expect them from her but she still felt guilty that her mind came up blank.

"Erica?"

"What is it Cal?"

Callie twisted in Erica's arms. "Promise me that if you ever find yourself in love with someone else you'll tell me. Don't try to save it, because if you feel that way then it's already gone. I don't want you to do that to me, and especially not to yourself."

Erica pushed a loose strand behind Callie's ear and kissed her gently. "There is no one else and there will never be anyone else. I'm done Cal. I found you and all that's left is spending the rest of our lives together."

Callie slowly nodded. "Okay."

"We're going to discuss everything, I promise. There's a lot we have to talk about, but I think we should save that for our return to Seattle."

Callie yawned but nodded.

Erica smiled, suddenly feeling rather tired herself. "Good, then let's get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a big day."

Callie didn't wake until early afternoon. Erica was nowhere to be seen as she sat up in bed and for a moment Callie's chest constricted and she felt the flow of air into her lungs start to cut off. It couldn't have been a dream, couldn't it? But just as she felt the depression seep in, Erica walked in, a towel wrapped around her body, drying her hair with a second. Callie smiled widely.

When she noticed Callie's grin, her right eyebrow rose "What?"

Callie smirked and gave Erica a come hither look.

Erica knew that look. She shook her head but smiled. "I just took a shower Cal."

"Hmm, let me try to care… nope, sorry, I tried." Callie shrugged sheepishly.

"My body, my choice."

"You'll be unable to resist me."

Erica guffawed. "Is that fact?" She picked up a brush and started brushing out her mostly dry hair.

Callie nodded. She pulled off the oversized Johns Hopkins t-shirt of Erica's she almost always wore to bed. She was braless underneath.

Erica momentarily glanced away. She forced herself to return Callie's challenging gaze. It took almost all her willpower to maintain her focus. "Tempting, very tempting but not irresistible."

Callie smirked. From Erica's point of view it seemed as if she were wiggling under the covers. A moment later Callie produced a lacy undergarment from beneath the covers and Erica realized a blanket and empty air were all that separated her from Callie's now completely nude form. Callie dropped her underwear next to the nightshirt of the floor.

Erica's swallow was almost audible, but she managed to maintain her distance. "Still not irresistible."

"Really?" Callie quirked an eyebrow. "So you're sticking with that huh?"

Erica swallowed hard again and nodded.

Callie shrugged. "Oh well. I guess I just have to take care of myself then."

Erica's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Excuse me?"

Callie shrugged again. "Well if you can't help me relieve this… pressure, then I have to help myself." Her hand disappeared beneath the sheets. A moment later she bit her bottom lip and her eyes fluttered closed as she hit her sweet spot.

Erica almost felt her legs give way beneath her. Callie wasn't playing fair. She let her towel drop and approached the bed. She crawled under the covers and straddled Callie. Callie's eyes shot open and she stalled her movements though she didn't remove her hand.

Erica's own hand slid down Callie's body until it found the raven haired surgeon's own. Together they both thrust into Callie's and her eyes fell closed again. It wasn't long before they both brought her to her climax together.

It was aggressive, it was hot, the kind of sex two people have when they're just starting to explore the physical aspect of their relationship. When they were done they both lay panting, exhausted from the exertion.

When her breathing calmed Callie broke into a huge grin. "I told you that you wouldn't be able to resist me."

Erica turned towards Callie and kissed her. "I don't believe there will ever come a day where I don't find you irresistible."

Callie pulled Erica back down the second she tried to pull away from the kiss. She could spend forever being this close to Erica and she wanted to. "I still want to have a wedding."

Erica smiled. "I know."

A knock came then. Aria entered with a hand clasped firmly over her eyes and closed the door behind her.

"Sorry to, um, interrupt. I just wanted to give you guys fair warning. Mom is on her way up."

Erica and Callie exchanged shocked glances.

"Shit!" Callie jumped up and grabbed the first clean pair of clothes she could find. She tossed Erica the outfit she had laid out before her shower. They scrambled into the clean garments and then perched on the bed a safe distance from each other.

"It's safe to look now. Come stand over here and pretend like we've been gabbing."

Aria came and sat between them Indian style just as Idola opened the door.

"Good, you girls are finally up. Erica, it's good to see you back home where you belong and in such good spirits."

Erica smiled and gave a nod of acknowledgement.

"Eduardo and I would be thrilled if you would join us for dinner tonight. I know your experience with that particular meal here hasn't exactly been pleasant but I assure you my husband will be on his best behavior."

"And what of Bastian?" Callie's tone was dark.

Aria's gaze snapped to her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Callie hesitated. "Nothing."

Idola seemed oblivious to any tension in the room.

"We'd be happy to join you." Erica smiled.

Idola beamed. "Fabulous. I'll make preparations." She turned to leave. "Oh and Calliope?"

"Yeah mom?"

"Nice… what is it you kids call it… sex hair?" She departed promptly, leaving Callie with a horrified expression.

Aria broke out into a fit of laughter the second the door closed. Once she gained her composure the tiniest bit, she tried to breathe to calm her laughter. "Mom so called you guys out."

Callie looked at Erica over the top of Aria's head as another round of laughs consumed her younger sister.

Erica nodded at the unspoken words between them. They both grabbed pillows and smacked Aria with them at the same time.

Aria's laughter ended abruptly. She glanced between them. "Oh, it's on."