"As anyone who's ever had their tonsils out can tell you, surgery isn't cheap. It takes a lot of money to keep a hospital's doors open, and when the funds run out, it's on us to get out there and raise some more, which means it's time to put on make-up. It's time to dress up right. It's time to get things started on the Muppet Show t... Crap! Sorry, I've been watching a lot of children's television lately. But you get the idea. Overture, curtain, lights. This is it. The night of nights. No more rehearsing and nursing a part. We know every part by heart. Tonight, what heights we'll hit. On with the show. This is it"

"spending every dime for a wonderful time"

Jackson and Beck were posing for pictures outside the gala when Owen approached them. He took a picture with them. "Hey. Hey. I really hope this red carpet is something you had laying around the house, Avery", he said as they started to walk towards the doors. "We're trying to raise money, not waste it". "I grew up in this world. I know how it works", Jackson replied. "We're attracting serious people with serious money and tailoring an event to them. Tonight is gonna be tasteful, sophisticated, conservative".

They walked into the gala to see a man walking on a wire, fire dancers, and acrobats. "You're right, this is tasteful", Beck commented, trying not to laugh. "You and I have very different definitions of the word "conservative". Owen added and walked off. "I got to talk to Ari", Jackson said through clenched teeth. "I'm gonna go find the bar", Beck said. "Tell her she did a great job. This looks like fun".

Alex and Lucy, dressed up for the gala, walked into the ER together. "I just gotta tell Kepner about a patient, okay?" he said.

"Yeah, that's fine"

"Are you sure you wanna go tonight? 'Cause we can skip it if you're not feeling up to it"

"Alex, please"

"What? What have I said now?"

"Don't start, okay? I wanna go so let's just go"

"Fine"

They walked over to April. "Kepner, kid in bed eight has abdominal pain and vomiting", he informed her. "If CT's negative, give him fluids and send him home". "Don't we look spiffy?" April complimented.

"Yeah, we do. You look like crap"

Lucy hit him on the arm.

"I haven't had a chance to freshen up yet, you ass", April said. "Watch your back, coming through!" the paramedic said.

"Holy heck"

"Hey, what's the story?" Stephanie asked. "Once upon a time, three idiots got wasted and ran their car into a tree", Nicole explained, bringing in the first one. "They're drunk?" Shane questioned.

"No, high as kites. Lucky they were the only ones that got hurt"

"Hey, Sinatra, I'll give you a fiver for a glass of wine", the patient said to Alex. "Sir, what did you take?" Shane said. "Heroin. Add a tox screen to their trauma labs", Alex said, checking the patient's arm. "What's your name?" "No ID on any of 'em", Nicole said. "We've been going with John, Jerry, and Jake Doe". "Cute", Stephanie commented. "Okay, let's hustle", April said. "Get a full trauma workup so I can get upstairs and run a brush through my hair". Alex's eyes lingered on the first patient as they were all wheeled away.

At the gala, Callie, Cristina and Lucy were watching the action. Cristina spotted Meredith wandering around and motioned her over. "Meredith Grey, as I live and breathe. I haven't seen you in ages", she teased. "How's Derek liking maternity leave?" "He's on paternity leave", Meredith corrected.

"Yeah, okay"

"We have a deal. I don't work. Neither does he. It's working out well"

"I live in your house. You're bored out of your minds", Callie pointed out. "Yeah, they've got all this pent-up surgical energy and now everything's a competition".

"It is not"

"And he's winning"

"He is not winning. He couldn't even get Zola to put her shoes on tonight. I did that. I got her to put her shoes on. So I'm winning"

They just looked at her.

"I need to come back to work"

"Drink?" a waiter with face paint offered, startling Meredith. He walked past and they started laughing. "That's the creepiest waiter I've ever seen", Cristina said. "Bailey's gonna lose her mind. She can't stand clowns", Callie said. "This is gonna be hilarious". "Bailey's not coming", Meredith informed them.

"What?"

"Wait, we can do that?" Lucy asked.

"Okay, I have been dreading having to be in the same room with Arizona. If this isn't mandatory, I'm going home"

"Wait, nobody's going home. I'm giving 10% of tonight's take to the department that raises the most money", Jackson said, walking over with Beck and Aurora. "Spread the word". He walked off. "Derek is really good at this kind of thing", Meredith said. "I should get started before he does". "He already has", Beck said, pointing behind her. They looked over to see Derek juggling amidst a crowd of onlookers.

Callie and Lucy were talking to a potential donor. "I have to confess something. I know who you are", he said. "I saw your video from the TED conference and I just... I'm sorry. I'm a little starstruck". Callie chuckled. "Really?" she asked.

"Yeah. You know, I go every year, and so many of the talks often focus on the tech or something clever, but yours... You spoke from the heart. You might be surprised..."

Lucy watched Callie's smile fade as she looked over the donor's shoulder. She followed her eyeline to see Arizona standing a few feet away. She subtly rubbed her back comfortingly, bringing her attention back to the donor.

"The truth. You're an inspiration. If I lost my wife in a plane crash..."

"Oh, I'm sorry. What?" Callie said.

"Your wife. She passed away, right?"

She looked over his shoulder again and Arizona was gone. "Yes, she did. It's been really hard"

Meredith approached Cristina, Beck and Aurora. "We all have to join forces so that Derek does not win Avery's money", she said. "Damn, prison's changed you", Beck commented. "We are in trouble", Owen stated, coming over to them. "Avery bet the farm on this party".

"Listen to you two. This is not that difficult. Just be charming. Use the same skills you would if you were picking someone up at a bar"

"I know you know how to do that", Cristina said, looking at Meredith and Beck. "And you need to practice", Aurora said to Owen. "If we're gonna get serious about meeting new people". "You need to let that go", he replied. "Ooh, Richie Rich, 10 o'clock", Cristina said, slipping away.

Alex was eating when Lucy approached him. "What are you doing?" she asked him.

"Eating shrimp at a party"

"You're supposed to be talking to donors. You need to... Alex! You even listening to me?"

"I gotta get some air"

"Alex!"

"Jackson!" Beck said, approaching him. "This is amazing! The magician, incredible! It's a freak show! It's awesome!"

"This is warm". He was looking down at his glass of champagne.

"Oh, yeah, Big Bird said there's no ice. Apparently, a miscommunication between the caterer and the venue"

"Cooling blankets. We have some back at the hospital. They can bring a patient's temperature down in minutes, right? No reason those can't chill a bottle"

"That's ridiculous"

"Then it's on theme for the night. And I can't leave. Could you please run back and get 'em?"

"Seriously?"

"I love you"

She groaned.

He kissed her.

"I'm gonna see if Kepner's here, maybe she'll do it for me"

Cristina was flirting with Richie Rich when she noticed Aurora standing nearby, staring at Owen who was talking to a beautiful woman near the bar. "You know, you need another one", Cristina said to him. "I'll be right back". She walked over to the bar with his glass, standing between Owen and the woman. "There is a gal over there doing close-up magic", she said. "You have to see it". "Emma Marling, this is Dr Cristina Yang, our best cardio fellow", Owen introduced them.

"How's it hanging?" They shook hands. "Go on. You're missing the magic"

The woman walked away.

"Whiskey soda. You are barking up the wrong tree with that one. You're never gonna get a donation out of her. Those shoes, outlet mall all the way. You want that"

"That old lady?" he questioned.

"That old lady in Chanel". She took the drink from the bartender. "Go get 'em, tiger". She walked off.

He looked back over at Emma who smiled at him. Then his eyes wandered over to Aurora who had been watching the whole thing.

April was getting champagne chilled when Beck approached her. "Thank you so much, you're an angel", she said.

"No problem"

"It was a beautiful service, but after, little Sofia just kept asking, "Why is Mommy not coming home with us?" Callie said some donors nearby. "You are so strong", one of them said, handing her a tissue.

"No, it's... Really it's my work that's kept me strong. This hospital, you know, these people"

"That's beautiful. Where can I make my donation?"

"Right over there next to the stairs"

April grabbed three bottles of champagne and started leaving.

"April?" Beck questioned. "Wait, where are you going with those?"

Lucy was talking to a donor while Alex was drinking at the bar. They made eye contact. "Do something", she mouthed.

He just sipped his drink.

She rolled her eyes and walked over to him.

Cristina came over to the bar. "Another whiskey soda please", she said. "That's your fifth one", the bartender pointed out.

"Who are you, my mom? I'm not drinking. Gotta stay sharp. This is for the CFO of AEC Interactive. Got him on the ropes. Every drink he knocks back is another zero added to the check I collect at the end of the night"

"That sounds wrong", Alex said.

"Right and wrong don't live here, son. This is the Wild West. This is so much fun! It's like when we were interns, stealing surgeries, playing dirty. I don't really get to do that anymore"

Meredith, now wearing a Ripa Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital sweatshirt, placed her purse on the bar. "Does this look stupid?" she asked. "The kid spit up on my dress, and in my dress. All over, really".

"Oh, for the love of God, Mer. You're making it so easy"

Jackson came on stage to make his speech. "Thank you. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am Dr Jackson Avery", he said. "And on behalf of the board of Ripa Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, I just want to say, "Welcome". Everybody clapped and cheered.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Now over the past year, we have seen many changes, from a change in name to a change in leadership. And it has all been a challenge. But it's been a challenge that we've all been more than happy to accept"

Everybody clapped and cheered again.

"Thank you. As surgeons..."

His speech was interrupted as the party planner lunged forward to break one of the acrobats' fall. "Was that part of it?" Alex asked. "I don't think so," Lucy replied. They all rushed forward to see the damage. The acrobat tried to get up. "Oh, no, no, no! You need to stop", Lucy warned her. "You could have internal injuries or breaks".

"I think I'm okay. See?" She stood up. "I'm okay. I'm fine". She tried to take a step but screamed when her tibia impaled her foot.

"So, yeah, I'd say there's a break", Callie commented.

"What's the update on those paramedics, Avery?" Owen asked. "Should be here any minute", Jackson replied. Lucy and Callie were checking the acrobat when Owen came to help them. "No pulse. Okay. Hold still. This is gonna hurt", Lucy said. "Ready on my count. One, two... Three!" They aligned the bone and snapped it back into place.

Cristina, Beck, Meredith and Derek were checking on the party planner. "Do you think he's watching?" Cristina asked. "Who?" Beck said.

"Richie Rich. 'Cause we look freaking amazing right now"

"Cristina, gross!" Meredith exclaimed. Beck's phone rang and she answered it. "Edwards, someone better be dying", she said. "I'm really hoping to avoid that, Dr Jacobs", Stephanie replied. "Ross is doing a pericardial window in the ER".

"Okay, when he aspirates the fluid, get him to the OR. I'm on my way"

"Go. We got this", Meredith said. Beck and Cristina got up and were walking past Alex, who was with the paramedics. "Where are you going?" he asked them. "Oh, back to the hospital", Cristina said. "Some junkie with endocarditis is tamponading".

"Which junkie?"

"There's more than one?" Beck questioned.

Callie and Lucy got into the ambulance with the acrobat. "Hey, I'm coming, too", Jackson said, following Owen out to the ambulance. "How are we doing on our fundraising goal?" Owen asked him.

"Oh, we're not even halfway there"

"Well, then you've got plenty to do here". He hopped into the ambulance.

Cristina, Beck and Shane were operating. "Let's take him off bypass and see how we did", Beck said. "Everything okay, Dr Jacobs?" Shane asked.

She scoffed and ignored his question.

"Pericardial window is a pretty risky move for an intern", Cristina said. "I didn't have a choice", he said. "The fluid was too thick for a pericardiocentesis". "You had a choice. You could have called someone the minute he tamponaded, but you didn't", Beck pointed out. "You basically got to do a surgery in the ER. And now you're up here with us, while Edwards is down in the put. You're a shark"

"I'm not! I swear"

"Ross, it's a good thing", Cristina said. "All great surgeons are sharks. You see what you want and do whatever it takes to get it. Like me. And never apologise. Sharks don't apologise". "Monitor", Beck said and it was shown to her. "Where's that coming from?" he said.

"It's coming from inside. That means we have two options. One, we can put him back on bypass, undo all our work, and find the source, or, two, we can take a guess, throw in a u-stitch and hope we don't shred the heart in the process. Jaws, what do you think?"

"Sharks don't swim backward. Only forward. Or they die"

"Option two it is. 4-0 Prolene"

"There it is", Shane said. "What's supposed to happen?" "If it worked, nothing. If it didn't, lots", Beck replied. "That'll do, sharky. That'll do", Cristina said.

Back at the gala, Jackson went over to Aurora as she was heading for the doors. "Aurora! Aurora, where the hell is Karev?" he said.

"I have no idea. He has been disappearing and reappearing the entire night. Whatever, it doesn't matter now. The party died the minute the aerialist fell on Big Bird. People see a woman's tibia impale her own foot, it's hard to steer the conversation in a different direction"

"They're gonna be fine. Alright. There's a hospital right down... Down the street. You know what? Ladies and gentlemen! Folks, wait a second"

Owen, Callie and Lucy were operating. "You said what?" Owen questioned. "I was cornered by the Widow Amos, who was, you know, actually a widow", Callie explained. "Her story was so sad, and she took out her checkbook, and I... I'm so gross".

"Yeah. I sort of get it, though"

"Really?"

"This stuff, it's not easy. And Aurora, she keeps pushing me to date"

"God, I can't even think about that"

"Yeah"

"You really can't keep telling people that she's dead", Lucy said. "I know", Callie said.

Lucy walked in on Alex about to stick a needle in his arm. "Wow", she said. "I usually have a pretty good radar for this crap".

"What are you talking about?"

"What the hell is this?"

"Oh, that's not funny. Don't freaking joke like that. I don't do that. I'm just trying to do a freaking blood draw"

"Why?"

"I think my dad's in the hospital"

"I don't understand what that means"

"I don't know. I can't... I haven't seen him in 20 years. And this guy, some old junkie, crashed a car, has no ID, he's ragged, wrecked, but his voice in the ER, guy called me Sinatra. It was like somebody ice water down my neck. That feeling hasn't gone away"

"So this is a paternity test?"

"I don't know. No. I thought I could live the rest of my life and never see him again. I don't want it to be him"

"If you take the test, then you'll know for sure. If it isn't him, then that feeling will go away"

"I guess that's true"

"Yeah". She grabbed a pair of gloves and put them on. "You know, I'm actually pretty smart. You'd know that if you tried talking to me tonight"

"I'm sorry"

"Yeah. Okay"

Jackson was alone on the stage as the gala was being cleaned up. Beck walked in and approached him. "Hey, superstar", she said, standing in between his legs.

He put his hands on her waist. "This was a bust, wasn't it?"

"Oh, it was fun until two people almost died"

"Nobody even wanted to be here"

"I did. I wanted to be here, for you"

He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her.

She smiled, placing her hands on his face.

He leaned in and kissed her.

Aurora found Owen. "hey! Are you gonna head back up the street?" she asked him.

"No, I was just heading home"

"Listen, I don't blame you for not wanting to get out there and date. It's scary and it's hard to find someone you really connect with. Do you wanna, um, hit up Joe's?"

Just as he was about to answer, Emma walked through the door. "Hey", she greeted him with a smile. "Hi", Aurora said.

"I don't believe we've met. I'm Emma"

"Aurora, lovely to meet you"

"Likewise. I'm sorry, am I interrupting?"

"You're here?" Owen questioned.

"Yeah, I really had a good excuse all worked up, and now I'm completely blanking"

He smiled but it faded when he saw the look on Aurora's face.

"I was just heading home", she said. "It was really nice to meet you", Emma reiterated.

"You, too"

"Goodnight", Owen said as Aurora left.

Alex was looking in on the junkie. Lucy approached him. "I have the results", she said. He looked back at the man, laying in the hospital bed. "I don't wanna know", he replied but it was too late.

"He's your dad"

"What?"

"Oh, my God. I jumped the gun. I am sorry. I am so sorry"

He walked off.

"Alex!"

He kicked over a trash can as he left.

She put her head in her hands.

Later that night, Lucy was asleep on the couch when she heard the front door close. She jumped up to see Alex in the doorway. "I didn't know if you were gonna come home", she stated.

"I..."

He didn't get the chance to say anything because Mia had woken and started crying. She sighed and looked down at the floor. He shook his head. "That's it. Come with me", he said, grabbing her hand.

They made it to Mia's room where she was still crying in her crib. He just stood and stared at Lucy. "What?" she said.

"Why are you just standing there?"

"We're both just standing here"

"You haven't touched your daughter in weeks"

"Because I almost killed her"

"That is not the problem"

"You're not listening to me. I almost killed her. How can you not understand? I am an awful person and I'm weak"

"Pick up your kid. Go on, do it. Pick up your daughter"

Her chin trembled as her eyes filled with tears.

"What are you so afraid of? Do you think I'm not scared? Do you think I have the makings of a good dad? Do you think that I wasn't hurt when you... But I stayed, Lucy. I stayed because I'm not my father. I faced it and I didn't leave. So I am going to ask you again, what are you so afraid of?"

"I'm afraid that I'm gonna love her so much and she's gonna love me, then I'm gonna hurt her again"

"Join the freaking club. Lucy, please, just pick her up"

She walked over to the crib and looked at her daughter's face. Her beautiful face. The face she hurt. The face she almost killed. The face she almost abandoned. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she picked her up. Mia looked into her eyes and Lucy's face crumpled. Mia put her head on her mother's shoulder and Lucy put her hand on the back of her head. She inhaled shakily, trying not to sob. 

hope you enjoyed! comment your opinions! song is puttin' on the ritz from the musical puttin' on the ritz