Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, only Shonda and the writers of Grey's Anatomy do.

A/N: After watching the movie Creed the other night (the new Rocky Balboa, boxing flick) I got an idea for a boxing a/u story. It follows the premise of that shoe Ultimate Fighter where the people come and train and try to become the next and greatest UFC fighter, however I changed the format to be boxing. I don't know really anything about boxing or MMA so bare with me on some of the technicalities and such. Also this is my first attempt at writing fic so don't be too harsh, please!

Chapter 1: Arizona

"Would you just open it already? You've been staring at that envelope for 2 days now, Arizona. You just need to sack up and open the letter."

"Timothy Walker Robbins, you will not use that kind of language under my roof. Do you hear me?" Not liking her son's choice of words, Barbara Robbins is quick to scold him. "However, Arizona, your brother is right. It's time you woman up and open that letter."

All Arizona can do is roll her eyes. Ever since the mail came on Tuesday, a knot had formed deep in her stomach. She couldn't sleep, she couldn't eat, and her mom and brother were not helping in the least. "You both know it's not that easy." Arizona replies. "Everything I have worked for the past three and a half years comes down to the contents of that envelope."

Barbara, seeing Arizona's nerves and apprehension, tries to reason with her nervous daughter. "Sweetheart, we know it's not easy. We all know how hard you've worked to get here, and we know how much this opportunity means to you." Barbara walks around the kitchen island, grabbing the envelope off the counter as she saunters over to her daughter sitting at their family's kitchen table. She gently places the letter down in front of Arizona and then moves a loving hand to her daughter's shoulder. Trying to convey love and comfort, Barbara adds, "You deserve this, Arizona. You deserve to win a spot there. I've seen how successful you've already made yourself. You have worked day in and day out to get to where you are now. Those judges saw that, they had to have seen it. Please, stop torturing yourself and open that letter."

Arizona scrunches her face together and takes a deep breathe. She knows her mom is right, it's time to find out her fate. Besides, if she keeps this charade of being too afraid to open a letter, then maybe she doesn't deserve to win potential spot there anyways. "Fine, you know what, you're right. I just need to open it." And with that, Arizona reaches out a tentative hand, clutching the nearly weightless folded up, glued together envelope in her left hand. With one last deep breath she slips the index finger of her right hand into the top edge of the envelope and begins to carefully tear it open.

Slowly, as if she trying to break the mysterious letter, Arizona removes the letter from its home. She notices that the letter is on nicer paper than that of the envelope. 'Very formal' she thinks to herself. As she carefully unfolds the tri-folded letter, she can feel the eyes of her mom and brother boring holes into her skull. Once fully opened, Arizona sees nothing but dark black print words staring back at her. She began mumbling to herself the words staring back at her. Not loud enough for prying ears to hear, but more than just reading to herself.

"Dear Ms. Arizona Robbins,

Thank you for your interest in the Ultimate Boxing Championship League. After reviewing your entrance application, watching your audition reel, and careful consideration amongst our selection committee, we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as one of our sixteen competitors in the Ultimate Fighter: Boxing Championship Series. Congratulations!..."

A smile big and bright enough to blind the stars broke out over her face. Arizona didn't need to keep reading, she got the gist of the letter and she was over the moon thrilled about it.

"Honey, what does it say?" Barbara questioned.

"Mom, really? Look at her face! She made it! She actually freaking made it!" Tim exclaimed. Leaping up from his seat at the table and grabbing his younger sister, he wrapped her in the biggest bear hug and whispered into her ear, "I knew you could do it Zona, I am so happy for you!"

Barbara Robbins leaned down and picked up the letter that her daughter had let go of while nearly being suffocated by her big brothers loving hug and continued to read where her daughter left off.

"…Congratulations! The next step in your journey to becoming the Ultimate Boxer is very simple. Please call the ten digit number listed below and state your full name to the operator. He or she will then confirm your spot in our program and inform you of when you need to report to our facilities in Seattle, Washington. We look forward to meeting you in person and beginning your training. Again, congratulations and good luck!

Please call: 800-225-9662

Sincerely,

Michael T. Goodwin, President

"Sweetheart, you need to call this number and confirm your spot. Lord, I hope they haven't given up on you! This letter has been sitting on the counter for 2 days now." Barbara tone was a little worrisome, but she tried to keep an even keel for her daughter's sake.

Panic now seeped its way into Arizona's skin. She knew her mom had a point and could possibly be right. Ugh why hadn't she just opened the letter the moment she laid eyes on it? Her father had taught her better than that. Be strong, be honorable, and be confident. Those morals, along with many others, had been instilled in her for as long as she could remember.

Arizona was at the phone in a flash and demanding her mother to read out the number slowly as her fingers worked across the keypad punching the corresponding numbers. Finally, she has the 10 digits dialed and with each ring of the phone, the butterflies in he stomach get stronger and stronger.

Ring…Ring…Ring…"Hello, thank you for calling the Ultimate Fighter Registration Office. Please state your full name so that I may pull up your file" the hoarse voice on the other end of line calmly dictated to Arizona.

"Um… Arizona Robbins", she stated as clear of a voice as she could muster through her nerves.

Arizona can hear the operator furiously typing away on a computer. "Okay Ms. Robbins, first of all let me say congratulations. I know you must be very happy about making the competition. Second, thank you for calling and confirming your acceptance, though you cut it very close to our 72-hour deadline. Our system is showing that you currently reside in Virginia, is that correct?"

Arizona takes a brief moment to calm her nerves. They had been building ever since her mom commented that she could be too late in accepting the offer, but she just heard the operator confirm her spot, so everything is okay…at least she hopes it is. With the way things have gone these past couple of years, she just never knows. "Yes, Virginia is correct. Just outside Alexandria, to be specific."

"Okay, so it looks like the closet major airport to you is Dulles International. You'll need to be ready to fly out Saturday morning. Could you provide me with your email so that I can send your flight information?" The operator states.

"Saturday morning?! That's like barely two days from now! How am I suppose to get ready in that short amount of time?" Arizona is dumbstruck at this very short window of time she now has to pull everything together and herself in order.

The operator, who is less than thrilled to be getting yelled at by someone who has essentially won a free trip to Seattle to pursue their dream goes on, "Well, Ms. Robbins, acceptance letters were sent out May 1st. Give or take three days for delivery, that puts us at May 4th. You appear to have waited two days to open your letter, since I am just receiving your phone call. That puts us at today, May 6th. All participants are scheduled to report to the facilities on May 10th, meaning you need to be on a plane no later than May 8th, to make sure you get here and have ample time to get yourself situated before you have to report to the director. So, I'll ask again, may I please have your email address Ms. Robbins?"

With her tail between her legs and a very apologetic tone, Arizona replies, "Yes, yes of course. I apologize for my outburst. I know you're just doing your job. My emails is a-z-r-o-b-b-i-n-s at g-m-a-i-l dot c-o-m." Arizona listens as the operator repeats her address back to her, "Yep, that's right. 'AZ' like the state abbreviation, Robbins at gmail dot com." After answering a couple more questions regarding things like food allergies and family medical history, Arizona hangs up the phone and turns to the waiting faces of her mother and brother.

"So, I guess I leave on Saturday!" Arizona grins as her two family members consume her in warm, loving hug.

Tim is first to release his grip on Arizona, followed by Barbara who quickly wipes a tear from her cheek. "Honey, I am so proud of you. You're going to achieve so much out there, I just know it. You have to promise to call us though, do you hear me? At least one call a week, and I'll even learn how to use that TimeFace thing on that new phone you insisted that I have."

"Mom, it's called FaceTime." Tim huffs.

"Yes ma'am, I promise to call and time face with you." Arizona smirks but her mother knows it was just a loving tease and that Arizona will most definitely FaceTime with her even if she hadn't asked for it. "Do you think he's proud of me?" Arizona hesitantly questioned.

Tim who had busied himself with getting ingredients out to make a grilled cheese sandwich, suddenly froze and looked to the two women standing across the kitchen from him.

Barbara, knew this questioned had to be brewing in her daughters head, took a step closer to Arizona. She raised both her arms and rested her hands on Arizona shoulders, then leaned her face in so that her forehead was almost touching Arizona's. "Yes. Yes, your father would be ecstatic for you in this moment. The only thing he wanted in life was to see his children happy, and Arizona I know this acceptance letter has made you immensely happy. After years of being unhappy, though you definitely had a right to be unhappy after everything that happened, I can see that this is the beginning of something great and I KNOW that your father can see that too, from wherever he may be."

A heavy sigh of relief sprang from Arizona's lungs and she reached in to hug her mom for what seemed like the 100th time in the past hour. "I guess I should go get packed then, huh. I've got a flight to catch!"

A/N2: the phone number Arizona has to call is made up completely. I took the word "calzona" and spelled it out in numbers. You know like we used to have to do before we had a full keyboard on our phones? So don't go trying to call that number because I have know clue who will answer or if it will even ring ha!