A/N: I wanted to write this from Aria's point of view. She's Isabella's best friend, I kind of wanted to write Don and Isabella's relationship from a third person's point of view. When I think about Aria, I think about Aiden, they're very similar in my book. Both are professional, loyal to the people they love, and they get the job done.

Hey, old friend together

Side by side

And year by year

The road was filled

With twists and turns

Oh, but that's the road

That got us here

Let's move past the bad times

But before those memories fade

Let's forgive, but not forget

And learn from all the mistakes we've made

'Cause it's so clear

Every year, we get stronger

So don't give up and don't say when

And just get back on the road again

Hairspray Cast — Come So Far (Got So Far To Go)

Aria De Luca watched her best friend talk to one of the people from New York with interest. She and Isabella had been best friends since second grade, when she had moved to Wilmington from Italy. She smiled as she watched her friend's conversational partner lean a little bit to listen to what she was saying. Aria couldn't remember the guy's name, but Isabella had mentioned him to her. She honestly didn't think she deserved Isabella as a friend.

"You look smug. That's not a good sign", Logan commented. Aria chuckled and looked at him.

"Who's Izzy talking to? I can never remember their names", she said.

"Don Flack. He's a decent guy", he replied. She studied her friend. She was truly blessed for both of her friends. Of course, Logan was much more than a friend to her. Four years ago on a drunken night, they made a child together. Nevaeh was their world. Even then, Isabella had happily helped them out. She was a wonderful friend. At times, it was like it was Aria and her against the world.

"Yeah, he seems nice", she agreed. She tucked a lock of dark hair behind her ear and turned to the GCMS before her.

"Looks like we need to round up all the woman-haters in the city", she muttered darkly. She hated facing all the cop-haters and the women-haters. She could only imagine what people thought of women cops. She glanced over at the former doctor on the case with them.

"How you holding up?" she asked him. Hawkes was his name. He shrugged.

"Pretty well. I wasn't ready for that kind of brutality", he replied. She chuckled.

"No one ever is", she said. She ran a print from Lila's belt and it came back to a Kyle Hanson. Locked up for assault on an officer four times. She remembered him. He was a racist, sexist bastard.

"Got a hit!" Aria enthused. She grinned and poked her head out.

"Hey, Trouble! We got our first contestant on 'Who'd Wanna Kill A Cop Anyways?'!" she called. Isabella's face broke out into a huge smile.

"Who's our lucky winner?" she asked.

"Our very own Kyle Hanson!" Aria replied. They high-fived.

"Alrighty, so who wants to come along with us?" she said, her eyes scanning the room. Isabella giggled.

"Oh, we have too much fun", she replied, planting a hand on her hip. Her aqua eyes flicked up to Don.

"Hey, Starsky, where's Hutch?" she asked. It was clear she was referring to Danny.

"Who are you referring to? Logan?" Aria asked. Isabella shook her head.

"Nah, I'm talking about Danny", she replied.

"Messer's running Trace with Hawkes", Logan called as he walked by.

"You gotta pick up Vaeh at four!" Aria called back. He chuckled and disappeared to the elevator. When she turned around to say something, Isabella had Danny by the arm and was dragging him out of Trace.

"Let's go!" she said.

When they pulled up to the mechanic garage where Kyle Hanson worked, Aria glanced at Isabella.

"Don't lose your temper, Killer", she warned. The four of them walked in and she held her friend back. There, in all of his tattooed and pierced glory, was the most notorious cop-beater in New Brunswick County. Isabella walked up to him.

"Kyle Hanson? WPD, we need to talk to you", she said, holding up her badge. If there was one thing Aria knew about Isabella, was that she did not like to be ignored. And being ignored, she was. She tapped him on the shoulder.

"I'm talking to you", she continued. He gave her a cool glance.

"Women aren't officers", he finally snorted. It was amusing to watch her set her jaw and narrow her pretty eyes.

"I beg to differ. I have this nifty little badge here that says otherwise", she replied as calmly as she could.

"Women like you should be doing what you were made for: on your back, servicing the working men like me and these two", he sneered. Isabella's nostrils flared as she glared up at him. She was losing her temper fast.

"I'm biracial", she snorted. He glared down at her.

"So our city's being protected by not only women, but half-breeds, too?" he growled.

"That's enough", Don warned. Kyle's eyes flicked over to him coolly.

"Alright, what can I do for you, Officer?" he asked.

"It's Detective", Don replied.

"Your prints were found on a dead officer's belt and skin. Care to elaborate on how your prints got there?" Danny asked. Kyle shrugged.

"Million and one ways it could've gotten there, man", he replied.

"But the prints were located in very intimate places", Aria spoke up. He gave her a cold glare.

"Let the men talk, sweetheart", he said. She jutted her chin out.

"You gotta problem with me, tell me now", she said.

"I gotta problem with your attitude. If this were the old days, I'd be taking my turn with you right now", he said, getting into her face. Big mistake. Aria let out a snicker.

"Then who'd be betraying their race? I'm fourth generation Italian, ass clown", she replied. He spat in her eye. Burning humiliation writhed through her belly. She had never been spat at before.

"Filthy immigrant slut", he snarled. Before anyone could react, Isabella lunged for him.

"Izzy, don't!" Aria shrieked. It was too late. Isabella had Kyle Hanson on his stomach and slammed his head down. The handcuffs went on and she shoved him to his feet.

"Looks like this half-breed opened up a can of whoop-ass", she said with a smirk. She shoved him roughly and he writhed against her grip.

"If you ever spit in my girl's eye again, call her an immigrant slut, or poke fun at women, I will make your life a living hell", she snarled in his ear. Aria had to admire her friend's loyalty, but her temper was going to get her in big trouble.

"He's just like Michael Elgars", Danny muttered.

"Who's Michael Elgars?" she asked.

"A Neo-Nazi back in New York. Talked down on Hawkes, Danny gave him hell for it", Don replied. She looked at Isabella pushing Kyle into the squad car and slamming the door. Eyes blazing, she stormed back over to them.

"I hate scumbags like that", she growled.

"IA's gonna have your ass now, Iz. We need you on this case, you lost your cool!" Aria scolded her. Isabella recoiled.

"I was defending you. I was defending our badges, he can't get away with harassing us!" she snapped.

"We also can't let him get away with getting to us. He now has the upper hand because you have a short temper", Aria replied. With that, she turned on her heel and stormed towards the car. She adored her best friend, she really did, but sometimes, Isabella proved to be a flight risk.

"That stupid half-breed assaulted me, I want her gone", Kyle Hanson snarled.

"Well, you can't always get what you want, you pathetic racist", Logan snapped. Aria watched from observation. Isabella had gotten a big slap on the wrist for jumping Hanson; a pay dock and two days' suspension, no gun, no shield. Well, big slap for her anyways.

"So, first I was physically assaulted by an officer, now I'm being verbally assaulted by an officer?" Kyle said. Don's eyes narrowed.

"You harassed two officers, it was justified", he replied.

"Back in the day, you'd commend me for putting those whores in their place", Kyle sneered.

"Well, we're in the now, and I'm two inches away from throwing you out a window", Don snorted. He was sticking up for them. Aria felt flattered, then she chuckled. It was probably mostly for Isabella; the pair's flirting and teasing didn't go unnoticed by her. The door to observation opened and Isabella walked in.

"I got special pardon for this", she said, leaning against her friend. Aria kissed the top of her head.

"You were also bored with doing Sudoku puzzles, weren't you?" she teased. Isabella glared up at her.

"They're so hard!" she complained. The two women burst out laughing.

"That's what she said!" they chorused. It never failed to amaze Aria; no matter how tense the situations were, she and Isabella could walk away, laughing.

"Shake to my bake?" she said. Isabella laughed.

"Cocaine to my waffles", she replied. They knuckle-touched.

"Bruce Lee to my Chuck Norris", Aria said with a smile.

"Cal Naughton to my Ricky Bobby", Isabella replied. When the day was over, they all met at the stay-easy and curled up in the living room.

"Hold up, remember when Izzy was little and Ian said she threw him on the roof?" Aria said, giggling. It was her favorite story of Isabella, although they hadn't met until years later.

"What?" Don said. Uncle Tony laughed.

"Ian and Izzy were very special children, like Gemini. Ian was like the angel, Isabella was like the devil. I was out working in the yard, when little Ian comes running around yelling 'Uncle Tony, Uncle Tony! Isabella threw me on the roof!' They couldn't have been more than three at the time. So I look down at Isabella and I said 'Now, Isabella, did you throw your brother on the roof?' And she gives me a look before looking at her brother, then at the roof and she's quiet for a minute, like she's actually thinking about if she could do it. She looks up at me and says 'No. You shouldn't believe everything Ian says'", he replied. Everyone in the living room erupted in laughter.

"Oh man, Ree-Ree, remember the bully who wouldn't leave Ian alone?" Isabella said. Aria threw back her head and laughed.

"Oh, my God, how could I forget? You totally kicked the crap out of him!" she replied.

"It's hard to believe someone so small could be so deadly", Don commented. Isabella gave him a big smile.

"That's 'cause you're on the right side of the arm", she replied. They were sitting on the floor next to each other very closely.

"Remember the hockey player?" Aria asked. That got a laugh from the people who knew.

"Oh my God, I remember him! Lyle Hayes, he was the goalie for the Hurricanes", Isabella replied. She had dated Lyle Hayes, the French-Canadian hockey player for a year. He had an unhealthy obsession with Celine Dion.

"Yeah, remember every time Celine Dion came on the radio?" Aria asked. Both women laughed hysterically.

"Yes! He got lyrics of her songs tattooed on his body", Isabella replied. Aria turned to face everyone.

"She dated this one guy who was a total crackup, he loved Celine Dion music and was French-Canadian", she explained, wiping her eyes.

"Who eez thees in my 'ouse?" she imitated his accent, causing everyone to erupt in laughter. It was a light evening all in all...laughter, good food, and friends. What more could you ask for?