Bernie smiled as she stared at Serena's retreating back. Her partner had to work, of course, while she and Jason had the day off. It was a blessing, of sorts, but a part of her wanted to be on AAU, watching Serena work as they both tried to save lives. She was humming something as she left, and Bernie couldn't place it, though there was something so very majestic about the way her hum crescendoed as she closed the door to the garage.

"Do you know that tune, Jason?"

"Of course, I do! That's from Auntie Serena's favorite opera, ever. Götterdämmerung, specifically, the Dawn passage. She's always humming that when she's a little sad."

Bernie's smile slid into a frown as she turned to face the young man. "Why would she be sad?" she asked lowly as she wrapped her hands around her coffee mug, pulling it tight to her chest as she gazed into his guileless eyes. "Jason?"

He looked away from her, as if he didn't really want to answer her. That could only mean one thing, that whatever he wanted to say might hurt her as well. Knowing that she had to do something to get his attention, Bernie reached out with one hand, resting it on his wrist until he was looking at her again. "The opera is closing next weekend, and there's a special gala for the last night. That was why she asked you to go to the opera first. She was hoping to get to see you dressed up in a pretty outfit, to take you out on her arm and show the world that you and she belong together. Because you are the one that she's in love with."

"Oh." Jason's words hit her like a load of bricks falling atop her head. How could she have missed that small detail when she had so quickly turned down the idea of sitting through an interminably long performance? She had been thinking only about how much her arse would hurt, having to be still for almost seven hours, not that she would be spending seven hours with Serena, vicariously living through her pleasure.

"Yes, so, she's reconciling the fact that she won't be able to see this, and well…"

In for a penny, in for a pound of guilt. "What?"

"This is the only part of the Ring Cycle that she hasn't ever seen live. And she has always lamented that she cannot afford to head to the Bayreuth Festival. But she's content, catching the different parts when she can. And maybe this one will come back to our part of the country in four or five years."

"Please, pile on the guilt some more, Jason," she muttered as she brought the mug up to her lips and took a long drink.

"Oh, I'm not trying to make you feel bad, Doctor Bernie. I'm just telling the truth of how things go. This particular opera hasn't been performed in Holby since 2010. But I'm certain that some other opera house in the country will put it on before another seven years pass by."

Bernie rolled her eyes a little as she shook her head. "For someone who claims to not want to guilt me, you are doing an awfully good job at doing just that." Jason just gave her a placid smile until she sighed deeply and got up from the table. "I really hope your Auntie Serena knows how good you are at getting her way for her."

Jason shrugged a little as he bent back over his plate, continuing to eat. Shaking her head once more, Bernie strode into the living room and grabbed her laptop before heading back into the kitchen and taking her seat once more. "What are you doing?"

"How do you spell that bloody opera?" she growled out as she called up her browser and clicked in the search box.

"The easiest way is to not put in any umlauts." She glared at him, and he just gave her a placid smile in return. "However, I think you would have a much easier time if you went to the Holby City Opera Company's website."

"You could have told me that in the first place." Jason laughed as she navigated to the site, clicking around to try and find out more information on the gala. Finally, she gave up and turned the laptop around, pushing it towards him. "Would you please find what I'm looking for?"

"Of course, Doctor Bernie, all you had to do was ask." She sighed as she watched him tap away at the keyboard, taking in the way his face fell. "It looks like all the tickets for the gala event are sold out."

"Doesn't that just figure," she said darkly as she set aside the mug and cracked her fingers. "Are there any tickets left? For any night?" There was a slight hesitation before he shook his head again. "Fuck."

"We could always see if there are tickets available from another place."

"Like a scalper?"

"Yes."

"I suppose."

"Or you could see if someone you know has contacts that would get you sorted."

Bernie's mind stilled at those words. She did have a few contacts she could get in touch with, and as Jason began to search, she pulled out her phone and dialed the first person who came to mind, hoping that he would be available. "Hanssen here."

"Oh, good, Henrik, I've caught you at an opportune time. Listen, I'm in a bit of a bind."

"And that would be?"

There was intrigue in his voice, and she smiled a little as she relaxed back in her seat. "Well, I'm in a bit of a bind here. Did you know that Serena likes the opera?"

A soft chuckle slipped from his lips, and she made a face, glad that he couldn't see her. "Serena? Like opera? That's like saying the sun sets in the west. She doesn't often get the chance to go, what with her work schedule. Why?"

"There's some opera closing in two weekends, the name sounds like goddammit…"

"Oh, Götterdämmerung! That is a long one, but so worth it. Depending on the soloist, Brünnhilde's immolation scene can bring tears to even the hardest of hearts. I was lucky to hear Nina Stemme perform the role, and oh, the sublime perfection that is her voice…"

"Okay, I get it, this is a good opera, even if it is long. But the thing is, there's a gala performance to cap off the end of the run, and Serena really wanted to go, and I said no at first, because really, who wants to sit through seven hours of singing in a different language? And don't you even say it, Henrik, I know who."

"And you want me to utilize my extensive contact list in order to snag you a pair of tickets to said gala so that you can impress the woman you love."

Bernie sighed as she nodded. "Yes. I truly am desperate here, Henrik, I wouldn't have called otherwise."

"Give me an hour, and I'll see what I can make happen."

"Thank you." He made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat as he hung up, and she set aside the mobile to once more look at Jason. "It appears that I may have a lead on a pair of tickets. And while I'm awaiting a reply, I thought we could watch some quiz shows that are still on the DVR?"

"I suppose that would be all right. Though I only have two hours before I'm meeting Robbie."

"I should hear back in about an hour."

Jason nodded and they got up from the table, leaving the laptop behind as they ambled into the living room. Jason brought up the next episode of Masterminds, and she settled in to play against him, anxiously looking at her phone after every question. Finally, towards the tail end of the current episode, her mobile vibrated, and she stared at Hanssen's name on the display. "Is that your contact?"

"Yes." Standing, she drifted over to the corner so she wouldn't disturb Jason before she answered. "So, do you have good news for me?"

"Perhaps. What will you give me if I do?"

She let out a frustrated breath as she slumped against the wall, clapping her free hand against her mouth so that she wouldn't say anything that might cancel out his noblesse oblige. Counting to ten, she tried to clear her mind of all the rude things going through her mind. "My undying gratitude?"

"That will work for now, but you're going to owe me one, once I return to Holby, because I had to pull some major strings to get these for you. I assume that you're still at that flat?"

"Yeah."

"Good, because I had my friend overnight them to you. They'll arrive sometime tomorrow, and then you can tell Serena that you are the best girlfriend in the world." Hanssen let out a light chuckle, and Bernie could just picture him, reclining in a chair, a pleased smirk on his lips. "And don't worry, I will never breathe a word of this to anyone."

"You are literally a Godsend, Henrik. Thank you so very much!"

"You're welcome, Bernie. Have a good evening at the opera." He hung up before she could respond, and Bernie sighed a little as she shoved her mobile into her pocket and fairly floated back over to the sofa.

"You look like you got good news, Doctor Bernie."

She nodded as she took a seat. "Hanssen managed to pull through for me, and finagled two tickets to the gala. Now the only question is going to be what to wear to something like this. Last time, Serena wore a dress and I wore trousers."

"You are going to need something a little fancier than what you wore last time, you know. This is a gala, which means that everyone will be dressed in their finest outfits. And I think that one of you should wear a tuxedo. I mean that is what lesbians do, right? You turn gender norms on their head?"

Bernie nodded slowly as she thought about what they would wear. "You are right."

"And it would only be fair if Auntie Serena wore the trousers this time, right?"

Again, she nodded. "But I want to keep this a surprise for her, really. Because I think that would really make her month. How can I get her a tuxedo in time without arousing her suspicions?"

"Well, I could always get her measurements for you, and you could go and pick one up."

It was the perfect solution, and her brain began to spin out with another idea. "If you could get me her measurements by tomorrow morning, I think that I could pull something extra special off. Do you think you could do that for me? Without Serena asking too many questions?"

Jason turned to look at her, a wide smile on his face as he nodded largely. "I think that I can do that, absolutely. I will text you with the measurements as soon as I get them."

"Perfect."

Bernie anxiously awaited Jason's text the next day. She knew that it was a gamble, to let him handle this task, but since Jason was Serena's nephew, there was still the chance that he could pull off a bit of subterfuge. Finally, her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, relieved to see Jason's name there. Tapping on the message, she let her eyes scroll through the measurements he had sent, smiling to see that he had somehow managed to be very thorough, which was exactly what she needed for a bespoke tuxedo.

It didn't take long for her to scroll through her contact list to find the tailor who had made her RAMC dress uniform. The man had done quick, excellent, work, and she desperately hoped that he could pull off the miracle that she needed. Touching his name, she held the mobile to her ear and waited for him to pick up. "Hello?"

"Andrew! This is Berenice Wolfe, and I might just need to sell my soul to you for this favor." She shut herself in their office, not wanting anyone to overhear her conversation with the man.

Andrew laughed a little before he spoke once more. "What do you need?"

"I need a full bespoke tuxedo by next Friday. There's a gala that I want to take my partner to, and I want her kitted out to the nines."

"And do you have her measurements?"

"Of course," she replied. "I can send them to you via text. I'll also want a custom handkerchief and tie, made as close to my dress color as possible."

"You don't ask for much, do you?"

"It's only that I know you can deliver the world, and that is exactly what I need. I can run by with my dress after my shift, so that you can see the exact color of it. I remember what you told me about photos not truly showing the correct color."

"That would be fine. I'll start the garments as soon as you send those measurements to me. I'm assuming you'll want the blouse to be white?"

"As snow," Bernie said, knowing he would pull through for her.

"Then I'll see you in a few hours." They hung up, and Bernie realized that she would have to go out on her lunch break to actually get a dress, something fit for Serena's presence. After all, she couldn't very well wear her dress uniform, that would look out of place, and she wanted every eye to be on her lover.

Looking up, she saw Raf glancing in the window, and she beckoned him inside with a wave of her hand. "What can I do for you, Mister di Lucca?"

"There's a case that could use your eyes, Bernie." She nodded and followed him out onto the ward. "So, it looked like you were having a serious conversation. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, though I'll need to take an extra-long lunch break today. And ask for a rather large favor."

He cocked his head to one side, regarding her carefully. "What do you need?"

"So, the rota is out for next weekend already, and, well, is there any possible way that we could switch shifts? I need to have Saturday off. Completely. Serena already has it off, which is perfect, but…"

"You will be in the doghouse if you can't show up to something?"

"A little, yeah. Hanssen arranged for us to get tickets to this gala opera event, and I happened to overlook one very large detail."

"Consider it covered, and you don't need to take over one of my shifts. It will be nice to get away from the kids for an extra night, anyway."

"If I weren't in a relationship, Raf, I would kiss you. Thank you so much!" She smiled as they approached the side of a young man, clearly in distress, and her practical, doctor, side took over as she focused on the patient and what Raf was telling her about his condition.

Three hours later, she was speeding into town, hoping that she could find something in the local dress shop in a short enough time. Thankfully, the store was empty of customers, and she began at the first rack, looking for something that would take Serena's breath away. "Can I assist you?"

She turned and looked at the clerk and nodded, knowing that she was a little out of her depth when it came to fancy dresses. She was more practical, more easygoing, but she really wanted to stun Serena with how good she could look all dolled up. "I am looking for a dress that will leave my girlfriend speechless. And she loves to talk a lot."

"All right, a challenge it is. Do you have any particular color in mind?"

Bernie took a deep breath as she thought about Serena's wardrobe. "I think a jewel tone would be best. A deep red or forest green?"

"Perhaps. Why don't I get you situated in a dressing room while I start pulling dresses?" Bernie nodded and let the young woman guide her over to a series of small rooms, letting Bernie take the largest one before she drifted away.

While she waited for whatever dresses that were deemed suitable, Bernie tapped her foot anxiously, not certain that she would like anything she was presented with. Fifteen long minutes passed before the door opened once more, revealing both her helper and another clerk, both their arms filled with dresses. "I really don't think this plethora is completely necessary."

"We just need you to see everything available that we think would work perfectly."

She nodded and waited for them to leave. "Oh no, dear, we'll help you in and out of them. It will go faster that way," the other woman said as she waved her hand up and down Bernie's body. "Now, strip down to your underwear, and let us get to it."

Bernie was about to shake her head, but somehow knew that would get her nowhere. Instead, she quickly pulled off her shirt before stripping off her jeans. She tried not to be self-conscious about her scars, so clearly on display, but found that the two women didn't make notice of them, instead helping her into the first dress. It was a cobalt blue sheath, and while it looked nice, it didn't really scream out that this was The One.

That went on through the next ten dresses, and she was starting to feel extremely frustrated with herself. "Maybe I should just pick one," she muttered as she stepped out of a royal purple number.

"No, we know there is the perfect dress here for you, and there is one left. I didn't really think it would do, but Amy here was quite insistent."

Bernie nodded and glanced to the hook where the last dress hung. It was magenta, and the bodice was boned, though the skirt was a bit full. There was delicate embroidery down one hip that extended to the hem of the skirt, and she could tell that the full sleeves would sit low off her shoulders. Even before it was taken off the hanger, she knew that it was The One. And the clerks seemed to know it to, given the way they were smiling.

"All right, you'll need to take your bra off for this one, the built in corset will keep your breasts in line, and you don't want anything to ruin the shape of the dress," Bronwyn said as she undid the lacing at the back of the dress. "Are you going to have someone help you into this? If it's a surprise, you won't want your lover doing that."

"Another detail I overlooked. I suppose that I could have Elinor help," she mused as she unhooked her bra and set it atop her pile of clothes. Stepping into the dress, Bernie couldn't help but sigh as the silk gown was raised about her body. Slipping her arms into the sleeves, she tried to remember to breathe as the back was laced up.

Bronwyn was right, the boning in the bodice did assist her breasts, giving her a delicious amount of cleavage. Serena would be hard pressed to keep her hands off her in this, and she knew that they had saved the best for last. "So, what do you think?"

"I think that this is perfect. I'll take it."

"We thought so." Bronwyn helped her out of the dress while Amy took care of the castoffs. Once she was redressed, she followed the woman up to the register, and tried not to gasp in shock when she heard the price of the dress. Still, she had gotten the tickets for free, which was a blessing she hadn't been expecting, and so it was all right to pay so much for her outfit and Serena's tuxedo. "I hope this fits the bill for your night."

"Oh, I'm more than certain it will," she replied as she signed the receipt. Picking up the garment bag that her dress had been placed in, she headed back into the bright afternoon sun. Though she was loathe to let the dress rest in her car, she knew that it would have to do until she got back to the hospital.

On the drive back to work, she called up Elinor, knowing that she would have to get her agreement sooner rather than later. The girl had been sort of standoffish towards them in the past, but Bernie was hoping that she could change that very soon. "Bernie? Why are you calling?"

"Cutting straight to the heart of the matter, eh, Ellie?"

"Well, yes."

Bernie chuckled a little as she shifted into the right gear. "I need to ask a huge favor of you, something we need to keep just between us. And no, before you ask, I'm not asking your mom to marry me. We're not at that point yet."

"Well, that's good to hear. But what can I do for you?"

The young woman's tone was a little softer now, and Bernie smiled as she drew in a deep breath. "So, your mom really likes the opera, and I messed up by saying that I didn't want to go to this Ring Cycle gala thing."

"You didn't!"

"I did. Though I managed to arrange for us to get tickets to the gala, and I'm going to need your help getting ready for it. My dress needs a helper."

"I'm in. As long as I get to do your makeup."

Bernie wanted to say no, but there was a part of her that knew the girl was trying her best to reach out to her, so she took it for the olive branch it was. "That would be fine. Because I really want to impress your mother for this, to make up for the misstep."

"Don't worry, I'll make you look amazing."

"That's what I'm hoping. Okay, I'm back at the hospital. I'll ring you again with more details for next Saturday, okay?"

"Sounds good."

Elinor disconnected the call, and Bernie smiled, knowing that she was one step closer to making things up for Serena. She only hoped that they could all keep this secret until the time of the big reveal.