A/N: This is my take on what probably happened after the Season 9 premiere, Going, Going, Gone. I was openly sobbing during Mark's death, it was so sad. So I guess this is kind of my way of coping. RIP Mark Sloan. I hope you and Lexie are happy together up there.

Callie slammed the door behind her, and took a deep breath. Then another. And then another. She kept breathing hard, hoping that it would help keep the tears away. Her best friend had just died, and her wife was holed up in her bedroom, refusing to talk to anybody. She couldn't help but think that it was her fault Arizona was curled in a ball in bed, not even looking up when Callie came in with food, or with Sofia in tow, hoping to get a response out of her wife. After the amputation, where Callie was the one who cut off Arizona's leg, she couldn't stop feeling guilty about it. It was she who cut it off, anyways. Arizona had a right to be angry. But, oh, why did Arizona have to be this way? Catatonic, unless forced to speak? Stoic, even towards their baby girl? The tears began to roll down Callie's face, and she began to sob, no longer able to hold it in anymore.

Callie walked out of the apartment and across the hall into Mark's. Using her spare key, she opened the door and took a deep breath. It still smells like him, she thought, and she moved to the couch. Sitting down, she looked around at a crib by the T.V., some toys scattered off to the side. Places where Mark's bachelor life had mixed with the one where he had a daughter that he adored. Callie had never imagined life without her best friend, and now, she had no choice but to live it. She got up and walked into Mark's bedroom. Memories hit her hard, and she flashed back to the time Mark, being Mark, had tried to record them having sex. She chuckled quietly to herself as she remembered Mark trying to convince her to go with it even as they were already in bed. He was always recording things, Callie thought to herself. She remembered when he had pulled out the recording camera at her and Arizona's wedding, giving a speech to it while everyone else was dancing. He didn't realize about Lexie until it was too late. Callie realized that her last thought about the father of her child pointed out how much life Mark still had to live. You could call him a man-whore, tell him he had too much sex, but he didn't really have a life. He wasn't really ever happy. Callie couldn't help but think that maybe if Mark had told Lexie sooner about how he felt, instead of wasting his time with Julia, maybe he could have been a little happier, even if for such a short time. In a way, it was poetic, really, that they died in the same accident. They can be happy together now, at least, Callie sighed, and she left the room, no longer able to bear the onslaught of memories. She walked back across the hall, careful to lock the door behind her, and went next to Sofia's room. Her little girl was awake, but distressed, as if she knew her daddy wasn't coming home. Sofia was rarely seen without a smile on her face, and seeing her frown now only made Callie's heart break a little more. "What's the matter, mija? " Callie asked, rubbing circles on Sofia's belly. Sofia squirmed, begging to be picked up, so Callie obliged. She lifted Sofia out of the crib, and patted her back. "Daddy loves you very much, you know," Callie couldn't help it; the words seemed to tumble from her lips of their own accord. "He isn't here now, but he loves you very, very much. And I know your daddy would want you to know that. He can't be here anymore, because he had to go up and be with God and Lexie. You remember Lexie? Well, now her and Daddy are gonna be real happy up there with each other. But just because Daddy isn't here anymore doesn't mean he isn't with you, okay? Daddy loves you so much; he's always going to be with you no matter what. He'll be watching up there with Auntie Lexie and he'll be protecting you."

She bounced around with Sofia for a while, whispering to her all the while. Sofia grew more and more content, until finally she was lying with her head on her Mommy's shoulder. Feeling Sofia's weight, however slight, was calming to Callie, and eventually the tears dried, and she was left with nothing but the funnier memories of Mark. Mostly those coincided with the times she wasn't sure if she'd wanted to kill him or laugh, but now, all she could do was laugh. Like the time he spent the whole day talking dirty to me until I realized I liked girls, she remembered with a smile, or when he helped Arizona get back in my good graces after the whole Africa debacle. At that thought, Callie sobered and considered how much she really owed Mark. Without him, she wouldn't be married to a beautiful woman, the love of her life. Hell, without him, she would have never even realized who she really was. Remembering Mark, her best friend, her favorite man-whore, had helped to cheer her up a little, but she still had something she needed to do. She got up and gently deposited a now sleeping Sofia back in her crib, and walked to the door behind which was Arizona. She braced herself, breathing deeply. Then, she opened the door.

A/N: So I know it's kind of cruel to leave you hanging like that, but I honestly felt like that was a good cliffhanger to maybe make you read the next chapter? ;)

In the next chapter, it'll be Callie and Arizona's second talk, one where things are a little bit less raw for Callie and therefore a little bit calmer. But by no means does that mean no emotions! There will be plenty of emotions and feelings, I promise. Reviews are welcome, even enjoyed.