AN: I know I said I was going to update earlier but I've had a lot of stuff going on. I went to the doctor to get a physical done and apparently I have scoliosis so now I have to get x-rays done to confirm it.

Anyways Jessica Capshaw is up for Faxo's Actress of the Month. There's only a little over a day left to vote so head over there and vote for her. You don't need a twitter account to vote so you have no excuse not to vote! ;)

Here's the link: http : / / tweeter .faxo. com /Actress _ of _ the _ Month / 2011 / 06

Just remove the spaces.

You can cast your vote every 20 minutes.

Oh and I wanted to congratulate Sara Ramirez on her engagement to Ryan Debolt.

Chapter 24: Explanations (Part 1)

Arizona turned around slowly to look at Callie.

"What?"

"I was planning on proposing to you." Callie repeated.

Everybody stayed quiet until a voice from the back of the crowd spoke up.

"She's telling you the truth!"

Arizona instantly recognized that voice.

"Dad?"

Daniel made his way to the front of the crowd followed by Barbara, Carlos, Rosa, and Aria.

"What are you guys doing here?" Callie asked.

"Callie, you know what we're doing here." Daniel said.

"No, I know what you're doing here in Seattle but what are you doing here in the hospital?"

"Arizona called us up having a little freak out worrying that you were cheating on her. We called your parents and decided to come to the hospital for back up just in case you needed it…and you do." Barbara explained.

"Wait, wait, wait. I'm confused here. Why are both of our families here?" Arizona asked.

Before anyone could answer her, the Chief showed up.

"What is going on here? Don't you all have jobs? Get to work… NOW!"

The crowd dispersed and just the Chief, Callie, Arizona, and their families were left.

"Torres, I just saw Hahn. Please tell me you were in no way involved in her getting injured."

"No sir, I was not… directly involved in her getting injured."

"But you were involved indirectly? Torres I do not want to suspend you so just tell me the truth."

"Suspended? Wait, now I'm even more confused. Callie you better start explaining right now!" Arizona told her, getting angrier at Callie because of all the secrets.

"Okay, but if I'm going to explain everything from the beginning, I want to do it once not ten times, so all of our friends have to hear this."

Everyone turned to look at Chief Webber.

"Fine! Page them and have them meet us in the conference room."

Callie and Arizona paged everyone and ten minutes later, the group of doctors that were there before trying to convince Arizona to tell Callie about Erica found themselves together again… plus Rachel Callie's and Arizona's families. Callie stood at the head of the table. Never one for public speaking, she was a little nervous.

"Alright, everybody knows that I've been acting weird the last few days. I have been jumpy, nervous, and I have been lying and sneaking around a lot. So I'm going to explain my recent behavior to ensure that none of you, especially Arizona, think I'm cheating on her. Arizona, think back to last week. When is it you noticed that I was acting strange?"

Arizona thought back to the dinner with the parents.

"Well, you did seem a little distracted after the dinner with our families."

"Right, well for that I have to go back 1 week before that dinner…"

Flashback (Callie's POV)

I paced around the room. I knew I had to do this soon before Arizona arrived home.

'Okay Callie, take a deep breath, I can do this.'

I sat down on the bed and quickly dialed the number. One ring, two rings, three rings.

'Maybe they won't pick up.'

"Hello?"

'Damn it.'

"Hello, hi uhm Mrs. Robbins. This is uhm Callie… Torres, your daughter's girlfriend."

'Smooth Torres.'

"What's wrong? Did something happen to Arizona?"

"What? No, Arizona is fine, she's at work."

"Okay, good. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to panic like that but you've never called before and you did today and I just thought the worst, but it's nice to finally talk to you."

'Now I see where Arizona gets her rambling from.'

"Callie? Are you still there?"

"Yes, sorry I just spaced out for a second but yeah it's nice to finally talk to you to."

"So what can I do for you?"

"Actually, I have something to ask you and Colonel Robbins."

"Okay let me just get him and put you on speaker phone."

'Come on Callie you can do this. What's the worst that can happen, besides them saying no. Oh god, what if they say no?'

"Okay Callie, we're here. What did you want to ask us?"

'Here goes nothing.'

"First of all, I know we've never met and this is the first time we talk but I want you both to know that I love your daughter very much and I would never intentionally hurt her. She's the best thing that has ever happened to me so with your blessing; I'd like to ask Arizona to marry me."

Silence met my ears and I started to panic.

'Oh no, they're going to say no. Of course they're going to say no, I've been dating their daughter for over a year and I've never met them. Suddenly I call them up asking for their blessing to marry their daughter. I'm practically a stranger to them. Uggh, how could you be so stupid Callie?'

My internal ranting was suddenly stopped by Arizona's mother.

"Of course you have our blessing! Arizona loves you very much and she's never been happier. We need to meet you first, before you propose to Arizona."

"Of course, I still need to tell my parents also."

"So after I called your parents I called mine and told them."

"So when our moms were making wedding plans it was because…"

"… they knew I was going to propose to you. Aria didn't know so when she told us what our moms were discussing I started to have an internal freak out."

"But that still doesn't explain why you were so distracted after that dinner."

"Well…"

Flashback (Callie's POV)

'I'm sitting here, having dinner with the most amazing woman ever, my family, and hopefully my future in laws. Life could not get any better.'

"Hey guys," Aria whispered to us, "you better watch out, our moms are talking about a possible wedding in the future."

'Great, life can't get better but it can get worse. Please don't have Arizona suspect anything.'

"Is there a possible wedding in the not so distant future?" My mother asked.

'Oh great. Now Arizona is going to suspect something for sure. Do they really think it's the brightest idea to talk about a future wedding in front of Arizona? What if they slip up or something?'

"Mama! De veras?" [Mom! Really?]

"Que? Nomas te estamos preguntando." [What? We are just asking.]

"Pues, no preguntes." [Well, don't ask.]

"Pero tenemos la perfecta idea para tu boda." [But we have the perfect idea for your wedding.]

'I'm so glad the Arizona doesn't understand Spanish or else she'll know for sure.'

Just then our pagers went off and we left.

'I've never welcomed the sound of a pager as much as I do now.'

"Can you believe our parents asking us when we are getting married? It's ridiculous."

My heart dropped.

'Oh great. She thinks getting married is ridiculous. This just keeps getting better and better. What if she says no when I propose to her? Maybe I shouldn't do it.'

"Oh Calliope, I didn't mean to make it seem like I didn't want to get married. I said it was ridiculous so you wouldn't feel like just because our moms were talking about it we needed to get married soon."

"Nice to know. So when was the next time you noticed me acting weird?"

"When you asked me to lie to Arizona for you." Mark spoke up.

"Right. Arizona later thought I was hanging out with Erica but that wasn't true. Yeah, we made plans but I cancelled."

Flashback (Callie's POV)

"Hello?" I said as I picked up my phone.

"Is this Callie Torres?" The woman on the other line asked.

"Yes this is she."

"Hi, I'm Melinda Trevor. You left a message for me at my shop concerning engagement rings?"

"Right, I was wondering if there was a way we could meet up outside of your shop. I'm a doctor so I can't go to far away from the hospital just in case an emergency comes up and seeing as your shop is about half an hour away…"

"I'm sure we can manage something. I am free tomorrow if you want to meet up. Just name a time and place."

"That's perfect. It's my day off tomorrow-"

"Hey Callie." Erica said as she walked up.

"I've got to go Melinda but I'll call you later to set something up."

"Okay, bye."

I hung up the phone and turned towards Erica.

"Who was that?" Erica asked.

'Lie Callie. I can't tell anyone about the proposal or it won't be a secret anymore.'

"Just my sister."

"So are we still on for tomorrow?"

'Oh crap! I totally forgot we were supposed to hang out tomorrow.'

"Actually Erica, I can't make it. I totally forgot I had a prior engagement when we made our plans."

"Really? What prior engagement?"

"I had made plans with… my sister. That's why she was calling me right now."

"Alright, maybe some other time then."

"Definitely."

Erica left and I went to find Mark.

'Now I need to convince Mark to lie to Arizona for me.'

I spotted him at the end of the hall and ran towards him.

"Hey Mark, hold on!"

"Hey Cal, what's up?"

"I've been looking for you everywhere."

"Sorry, I've been in surgery."

"Oh. Look, I need you to do me a huge favor."

"Okay, sure, anything."

"You have tomorrow off right?"

"Uh yeah, why?"

'Quick Callie! Think of a lie.'

"I have to uhm… do something tomorrow…"

'Very convincing lie. I'm such an idiot.'

"…so I'm going to tell Arizona that I'm hanging out with you all day tomorrow. So if she texts you asking if we're having fun or anything like that tell her yeah or make something up."

'Please don't ask any questions Mark just say you'll do it.'

"You want me to lie to Arizona and say you're hanging out with me?"

'Damn it!'

"Yeah. That's what I just said." I said a little aggravated as I looked around, making sure nobody was listening in on our conversation.

"Gosh Callie. No need to be so feisty."

"Sorry."

"Well what if Arizona wants to "hang out with us"?"

"She has to work tomorrow so she won't. So can you?"

"I don't know Callie, lying to Arizona, that's risky. I heard she threatened to hit Karev with a brick because he slept with you years ago. She may seem all innocent, but she can probably kick ass."

"Please Mark."

"Why are you lying to her? What are you going to do tomorrow that you can't tell Arizona?"

'Mark I wish I could tell you but you probably would tell Lexie and once Lexie knows no doubt everyone will know.'

"It's not important."

"Not important? You're lying to her, it must be important." Mark muttered.

"Just trust me okay?"

"I do trust you."

"So you'll do it?"

"Yeah sure, whatever."

"Thanks Mark. I have surgery in five minutes so I have to go," I yelled as I ran to the OR, "You're the best!"

"So you didn't hang out with Mark at all that day?" Arizona asked Callie.

"I did, I had dinner with him."

"But when I saw him at the diner he was alone and you sent me a text saying you were having dinner with him."

"Oh that, well here's what happened…"

Flashback (Callie's POV)

I dialed Mark's number as I left the park where I had met Melinda.

"Hey Mark want to have dinner."

"Sure, I'll meet you at the diner."

"Okay, bye."

As I arrived at the diner I saw Mark was already there waiting for me.

"Hey, so did Arizona text you?"

"Yes, and I told her we were at the movie theater and you couldn't text her."

"Thanks Mark, you're really helping me out."

"Callie, you have got to tell me what is going on. Arizona was saying that you weren't answering her texts which is why I made up that lie that we were at the movie theater."

"Look Mark I can't tell you. At least not right now. Just please trust me on this."

"Fine let's just order."

After we ordered I got up to go to the restroom.

"I'll be right back."

As I was leaving the restroom I got a text from Arizona.

'Hey babe, what r u doing?' -A

'Why would she be wondering what I'm doing? I told her I was having dinner with Mark.'

I realized I still hadn't text her back so I sent her a quick text.

'I'm having dinner with Mark, like I told you, why?' -C

'Just wondering.' -A

I went back to the table where Mark and our food were waiting for me.

"If that's true then why was there only one plate of food on the table when I sent you the text?" Arizona asked.

"I can explain that." Mark turned towards Arizona. "Right after Callie got up to go to the restroom, our food arrived but Callie's was the wrong plate so they took it back and went to get what she actually ordered."

"I feel so stupid!" Arizona put her head down on the table.

"You're not stupid Arizona you just took things out of context, so what else do you want to know?" Callie said as she put an arm around Arizona.

AN: I'll try to post part 2 of this chapter as soon as I can. Please Review.