Summary: Part Two of the Muddy Buddy World. Arizona and Callie go to see the Torres's.
Disclaimer: All television shows, books, movies, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work and the characters, events, and settings thereof are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
AN - ME: Okay, so this isn't technically a CSI: Miami, crossover, but I was watching the show when I was writing my part, and therefore, Callie's childhood best friend is Jesse. It's not mentioned by name, but my favorite surf shop is the fantastically awesome Ron Jon's, in Cocoa Beach, FL, but despite them opening up several stores throughout the state of Florida, there isn't one in Miami, but the surf shop our girls visit is meant to model after Ron Jon's, slightly.
And the reunion thing? You think it doesn't happen, but it does. My class president tried to hold a reunion at five years, but like 8 people responded back that they would attend, so the celebration was put off for another five years.
Callie was a little nervous as she and Arizona walked into the formal dining room. They didn't dine in here nightly, only when they had more than 10 people or for holidays. She was very glad it was just her Aunt Julia, Uncle Roberto, Sophia, her parents, Arizona and her tonight. This group would behave.
"Calliope." Roberto stood up, walking over to his niece and giving her a hug. He was one of the few that was a little more touchy feely like the Robbins clan. "You look lovely." He looked like his older brother, his hair a little less gray though.
"I'm good, Uncle Roberto." Callie grinned at her favorite uncle. "Arizona this is my uncle Roberto, Uncle Roberto this is Arizona Robbins."
Roberto smiled at Arizona. "Calliope you have wonderful taste and it is a pleasure Arizona. My niece has told me a lot about you." He flashed a rather charming grin at the two women before lowering his voice. "William and I are planning to have lunch at the hotel at about one tomorrow, will you join us?"
Callie shared a look with Arizona to make sure she didn't have a problem with it. "We'd love to." She said softly before the three of them walked over to the table. Roberto pulled out their chairs for them before sitting down.
"How are you, Callie?" Julia asked as she looked over Arizona. "We haven't seen each other in over a year thanks to my brother." She shot him a glance but quickly looked back at the younger woman.
"I'm good Aunt Julia." She always liked her aunt but she could be a little much in large doses. "Arizona this is my Aunt Julia, the best lawyer this side of the Mississippi."
"It's very nice to meet you." Arizona smiled, her dimples coming out.
Julia looked Arizona over again before she answered. "Calliope gave up a lot for you, you must be something." She nodded before turning back to talk to her sister-in-law.
Sophia walked into the room; she always liked to watch the cooks as they got the food on the plates. "Hi." She grinned as she sat on the other side of Arizona. "They made duck." She bounced in her chair a little. "My favorite."
Arizona watched as their food was brought out to them by three men, she was impressed that they had a cook and servants to bring their food into them. She took Callie's hand under the table and smiled at her when Callie put their hands on top of the table for all to see.
"Can you pass the salt, Papa?" Callie asked when she saw him look at their hands. She wasn't going to back down anymore. She and Arizona were adults in a loving and committed relationship. They were doing nothing wrong by holding hands at the table.
"Of course." Carlos said, picking up the salt and looking into Callie's eyes, smiling for just a second before bowing his head and leading the family in saying grace.
Arizona watched as the conversations happened in English and Spanish at the same time. A sentence would start in one and change to the other half way though, no one but her seeming to notice. She had worked on her Spanish but she was nowhere near as good as to figure out what was being said. She would have to ask Callie for help later.
"That was better than it could have gone." Callie smiled brightly as she shut and locked her bedroom door. She didn't want her sister to come in here in the middle of the night or a relative busting in on them without thinking. "They were nice to you."
Arizona blushed as she walked into the bathroom and took her jewelry off, except her pendent. "Your aunt kept looking at me during dinner like I was going to jump you right there." She turned the shower on, needing a bit of relaxation before bed.
Callie walked into the bathroom, her dress had been removed to show a black bra and panties. "She is a bit abrasive but she was like that to the guys I dated and brought home, too. She's protective of me." She grabbed a cloth and started to remove her make up before seeing Arizona watching her in the mirror. "What?"
Arizona didn't answer her for a moment, walking over and wrapping her arms around Callie's waist and kissing her shoulder. "You are beautiful." She whispered, feeling like she was 16 again. "And you are mine."
Callie finished taking her makeup off before turning in Arizona's arms, kissing her chastely. "I am yours and this trip won't change that." She knew Arizona was scared and wanted to take that away. She would give up everything again, cut her family off and give back her trust fund again if it meant being with Arizona. "I love you."
Arizona broke out the dimples, moving her arms around Callie's neck so she could pull her into a not so innocent kiss. "Would you like to join me in the shower?" She asked in a low voice.
Callie couldn't hold the innocent act anymore as she watched Arizona strip and get into the glass shower. The way the water hit her sent chills down her spine. Stripping as she walked to the shower she got in and smirked a little. "I know from personal experience that the walls can support a person lifted against them." She knew how to push the possessive button and a possessive Arizona was a sexy Arizona in Callie's book.
"Do you bring all your lovers to the shower?" Arizona pushed Callie against the shower in one smooth motion. She didn't give Callie time to answer before her lips were pressing into the Latina's.
An hour or so later Callie got into bed after she had finished putting lotion on her legs, snuggling to Arizona's warm form. She laughed softly, her head going to rest on her girlfriend's shoulder.
"What's so funny?" Arizona raised an eyebrow while her arm went around Callie's waist. She always soaked in the moments where they were in bed and happy.
"Your parents are fine with you being gay and we had to sleep in two different beds, my parents are less so and yet we get to share a bed here. Just funny to me." Callie turned and looked up at Arizona, kissing her jaw.
Arizona laughed, nodding. "Yeah I hadn't thought of it." She remembered what happened at dinner and shifted so she was looking at Callie. "Can you help me with my Spanish? Dinner showed me just how underprepared I was."
Callie smiled as she took Arizona's hand, interlacing their fingers and resting them on her hip. She knew that they changed back and forth a lot; they had always done that, so she tried to help Arizona learn how to understand that.
Arizona tried very hard to learn from Callie, tried to learn as quickly as she could so she could take part in what was going on around her. "Thanks." She said an hour later, now her head really hurt from trying to remember everything.
Callie kissed her as she leaned over and hit the light off. "Anytime. It's really sexy when you speak Spanish and I know you like it when I do."
Arizona blushed but the dimples showed themselves. "Yeah I do." She said shyly, turning on her side so Callie could spoon her. "I love you, goodnight."
"I love you, goodnight." Callie whispered back.
Arizona woke up before Callie the next morning and needed coffee. She put on a pair of running pants over her shorts, tied her hair back in a pony tail and walked to the kitchen. Aria was sitting at the table, coffee in hand. She looked like she had a rough night.
"You're a doctor right?" Aria asked as she stood up and walked over to where Arizona was. "So if you treat me for something you have to keep it from everyone?" Unlike yesterday there was nothing in her eyes, it was like she was on auto pilot.
Arizona remembered what Callie said but also knew that if something was wrong and Aria needed medical care she should help her. "If I treat you for something I can't tell anyone." She nodded, taking a sip of her coffee.
Aria looked around before pulling Arizona into the pantry. "Is this something I need to have looked at?" She lifted her shirt up and showed her a large bruise the size of a foot on her ribs. "I think I broke a few ribs."
Arizona slowly reached out and touched the spot gingerly before nodding. "I would say you're right." She whispered, having seen marks like these on people before and knowing what they mean. "Who did this to you Aria?" She asked as she moved her hands over the mark to check it.
"Do I need to go to a hospital?" Aria didn't answer her question, pulling her shirt back down.
"They will heal themselves." Arizona watched Aria walk out as soon a she told her that.
Callie and Arizona walked into the lobby of the 5 star hotel the Torres family owned. It was one of the most beautiful buildings Arizona had ever seen. "Wow." She muttered, tugging of her simple blue top. "I feel underdressed."
Callie was in jeans, a simple white and purple shirt and her trademark leather jacket. "Don't worry, you look great." Callie smiled brightly as they walked toward the 4 star restaurant that the hotel had within it.
Roberto and William were both there, sitting at a table together. Roberto in a black suit and William, who was a tall, thin man with salt and pepper hair, was in blue. Callie pulled Arizona over to the two men, grinning.
"Hello Uncle Roberto, William." She hugged both men when they stood, kissing their cheeks. "William this is my girlfriend Arizona Robbins, Arizona this is William Dunmore. He's Uncle Roberto's roommate." She teased the two men. Her parents always told her when she was younger that her uncle had roommates and to this day that's what she called his boyfriends.
Arizona smiled at the two men. "It's nice to meet you, William, nice to see you again, Roberto." The foursome sat down just before a bottle of wine was brought over.
"I hope you two don't mind, we like to drink during lunch." William chuckled softly.
"If you two worked here you would understand." Roberto said, pouring them each a glass of wine.
"Maybe that's what we need to do, drink during lunch at work." Callie said, taking Arizona's hand and her wine. "Though you work with kids so I don't know if coming into a room with wine on your breath would make the parents happy."
"I have a feeling you're right." Arizona laughed, taking a sip of the very good wine. "What is this, it is fantastic."
"It's about 75 years old." Roberto told Arizona. "$500 a bottle but it's worth it isn't it?"
Arizona nearly choked to death on her wine when she heard how much a bottle cost. She couldn't help but think back to the date that almost killed her relationship with Callie. She looked over and saw that Callie was thinking the same thing.
"What are you two ladies doing today?" William asked after they had ordered their lunches. "Shopping?"
"I thought I'd take Arizona around and show her the sights. Maybe do a little surfing later if the waves are good." Callie stroked the knuckles on her girlfriend's hand, watching her uncle do the same thing.
"Did you bring our boards?" Arizona asked Callie, remembering the one she got when they went to see her family last year. "I didn't see them on the plane."
"They are at the house." Callie nodded. "They couldn't fit in the car so they made their own trip."
"So tell me Calliope." Roberto leaned forward a little. "How does it feel to be the only fully out Torres?" He chuckled softly.
"Awesome." Callie's mouth twitched a little as she used one of Arizona's trade mark words. "I am glad everyone found out even if it happened how it did."
"When you see Mama and Papa that is going to be the real test." Roberto said, looking over at William. "If they don't kill you I might finally tell them William isn't just my fraternity brother."
"They understand being in love." Callie said softly, smiling. "And really that's all they need to."
"So, your grandparents don't know? About us?" Arizona elaborates an hour later as they're exiting the hotel. Handing the ticket for the car to the valet, Callie turns to her to answer.
"They know I'm dating someone, someone who I love and who makes me very happy. But no, they don't know that I'm dating a woman. I am a little afraid to tell them, not because of how upset I think they'll be, but because… they're 82 and 83, very old-school Catholics, and they aren't in the best of health. I'm afraid to tell them because I'm afraid the news will give one – if not both – of them a heart attack."
"Okay." Arizona's simple acceptance throws Callie for a loop, and her shock shows as the valet drives up with their car, leaving the door open for Callie, while another moves around to open the passenger door for Arizona. "Are you coming, Calliope?"
"Right, yeah." Callie quickly tips the young man before getting in behind the wheel and driving off.
"You're really okay with it?" Callie questions, driving toward town.
"Yes, I can understand that. Do you think they'll be upset?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe shocked, more so than angry or upset. Shocked because they knew that I was married to a man – then again, they didn't disown me when they heard I got divorced, but then again, they could think this is a phase, to get over the fact that I had my heart broken by my husband. I don't know." She stops talking for a moment to change lanes, pulling into a parking lot in the middle of a strip of stores, bars and restaurants. "I was thinking of maybe going to see them one day this week and explaining it, give them a heads up or something."
"So they can have their heart attack in their own home, rather than at their anniversary party?"
"Mean." Still Callie returns a smile to Arizona's teasing comment.
"That sounds like a good idea."
"Good, so…" They exit the car, and Callie waves her arm to display the street they're on. "It's a little touristy, but the surf shop I used in high school is on this street, and there are a few good spots."
"Well then, lead on Calliope." Arizona grabs her hand, weaving their fingers together before following Callie down the street.
Occasionally, Callie would point out a store, or bar, start a story, but usually stop after getting out: 'One time in high school…' while turning beet red.
"So, here's my favorite surf/water sports shop. Well, second favorite, but my favorite doesn't have a location here in Miami. We do need to stop here though, I need a new rash guard, my old one is starting to break up a little." Callie opens the door, following the blonde in, nearly running into her when she stops short at the sight before her.
"Whoa." Arizona stares in wonder at the sight inside the store. There are racks upon racks of every size, color and brand and style of wetsuit, board shorts and bathing suits that you could dream of on the floor. And hanging from the balcony dividing the two floors are hundreds of different types of boards: long boards, short boards, boogie boards, you name it, this store has it. Hanging from the ceiling are more boards, as well as tons of kayaks. Basically, this place is a water enthusiast's wet dream. "I think I could entertain myself in here while you search for a new top."
"Good to know. I loved this place in high school. My father hated that I wanted to work here. It's not like I needed the money, or the discount, it was just the atmosphere. I loved being here, and getting to work here, well, that was just the cherry on top." Arizona follows Callie over to the women's section, still taking the sights of the store in, in wonder. Until they get to the first rack, and she spots several items she likes, searching out her size to try on, ignoring Callie's chuckles at her enthusiasm.
An hour later, not only has Callie chosen two new rash guards, but three new suits, and a pair of board shorts. Arizona is in the dressing room trying on her 50th suit, when Callie feels a pair of arms encircling her from behind, lifting her off the ground in enthusiasm. Callie drops her items in shock, a squeal emanating from her mouth. After being lowered, she turns, fully intending to slug the person that dared surprise her, instead, a new squeal of surprised joy escapes her as she throws her arms around the person's neck, allowing him to lift her off the ground once more.
"Hey, Cal, long time no see." The man's tone is easy going, though there's a look of slight pain on his face at the decibel level of Callie's shrieks. He bends over to retrieve the items Callie dropped, handing them to her as he stands up.
"Jesse! What are you doing here? I thought you were in LA!" Callie accepts her items with one hand, keeping the other firmly attached to the man's arm.
"I was, I returned back here last fall. I ran into your dad last weekend, he said you'd be out here this week for the anniversary party. I figured it wouldn't be long before you made a trip here. And I needed a new suit." Jesse holds up said item. "I lucked out; I was planning on returning every day until I saw you."
"Well, it's great to see you. Are you still with the crime lab? That is what the alumnus newsletter said, right?"
"I don't know if that's what the newsletter said, but that is where I am. But enough about me… your father mentioned something about you bringing someone with you." Jesse grins cheekily at Callie. "Is there a new gentleman suitor in Callie Torres's life?"
"Nope." Callie's face doesn't give anything away, which seems to shock Jesse.
"Really? I've never known your father to lie. Why would he say that you've got a new man in your life if you don't?"
"Did my father say that I've got a new man in my life? Those words, exactly?"
"Uh, no, he said you've got someone new in your life. But I've known you since we were two, Callie, who else would it be if not a man?" Before Callie can answer, a blue-eyed, blonde bundle bounces up to her with several hangers containing two pairs of board shorts, three rash guards, four new bathing suits, and two suit cover ups. Leaving several hundred – only a minor exaggeration – hangers behind.
"Okay, I do believe I'm set. Hi!" Arizona greets a shocked looking Jesse, taking in the familiar way he's holding her girlfriend, with only the slightest twinge of jealousy. Clearly he's not accustomed to her level of perkiness. Callie chuckles softly at the anticipated reaction she's about to get from her best friend, while Arizona looks between the two in confusion.
"Arizona, this is Jesse Cardoza, he and I have been the best of friends for years, we grew up together. Jesse, this is Arizona Robbins, my girlfriend." Callie looks up to her best friend to wait for his reaction… he looks confused.
"Ummm… what?"
"Jesse, this is Arizona-,"
"I got that part; it's the other part I'm not getting."
"The girlfriend part?"
"Yeah."
"She's my girlfriend, in the whole biblical, I like women way."
"Really? So, is that why you turned me down all those years ago?" Callie laughs, knowing that Jesse making jokes is a good thing.
"No, I turned you down all those years ago because you were like the brother I never wanted. Plus my dad and your mother wanted us together so badly it kind of turned me off to you in the romantic sense. And you were my best friend. It never would have lasted."
"I got you." Jesse maneuvers himself around Arizona's items to give her a hug, having to stoop down a good foot to do so. "It's nice to meet you Arizona."
Despite being from a very affectionate family, Arizona is shocked at the affection from Jesse, though she quickly recovers, returning the hug and dropping a few of her items in the process, which Jesse is quick to retrieve for her.
"Nice to meet you too, Jesse." She accepts the items he retrieved for her before heading off to the register, Callie and Jesse following behind her.
"Hey, did you get the invitation to the reunion this summer?" Arizona perks up at Jesse's question.
"Yes. And no, I'm not sure if I'll be able to attend."
"Why not? You haven't attended the last two."
"Because our class president was a freak, who insists on holding reunions every five years. What's the point? Five years is pointless, because chances are everyone is either still in school, or has the same personality that they did in high school – and I didn't attend because I was in Botswana. Ten years is pointless, because it's too early, everyone will be trying to make themselves out to be far more important and wealthy than they actually are – and I was in the middle of my residency at the time."
"Yes, well, we all weren't as freakishly over-achieving as you were, so most of us were able to be around for those. Though I heard only about 80 people RSVP'd for the 5-year reunion. So what's your excuse for not attending the 15 year reunion?"
"It's in August, right?"
"Yeah, the weekend of the 13th, why?"
"Boulder." The two women answer simultaneously.
"Sorry, Jesse, but if given the choice of attending my 15 year high school reunion or joining the Robbins in Boulder, I'm choosing Boulder."
"What's so exciting about Boulder in the summer time?"
"Only the most awesome endurance race ever! Sorry Jesse," Callie's tone goes back to normal after the first sentence. "But I'm choosing the Muddy Buddy over the reunion. I'll try and make it to the 20 year one."
"Won't you two have a houseful of kids by then?" Before Callie can give an evasive answer, Arizona jumps in.
"Possibly. But we've also got a surgical floor full of friends that would be willing to watch over them for us."
Jesse doesn't miss the glance or the soft smiles that the two women share over the blonde's comment.
"I'm going to hold you to that, Arizona, to bring her to the next reunion."
"I do solemnly swear to make sure that we do not choose a race date that interferes with the reunion."
"Pinky promise?" Jesse holds up said digit for a shake, that Arizona is happy to oblige.
"I have to say, Jesse, it's odd to see a grown man make a pinky promise. I at least have an excuse for accepting," Arizona is quick to respond. "I work with kids all day; they're forever making you pinky promise."
"Teacher?" Jesse questions her profession.
"Pediatric surgeon."
"You will have very smart children." Jesse predicts, only half joking. Just as he finishes paying, his pager goes off. "Eh, I gotta go, results I've been waiting for just came in." He leans down to give each woman a kiss on the cheek before grabbing his bag. "It was good to see you again, Cal, and nice to meet you, Arizona. If I don't see you again this week, I just might see you on Friday at the party."
"Can't wait." Callie waves him off.
"Is he a doctor, also?" Arizona questions Callie.
"Detective, crime scene investigator." Arizona is so distracted, she doesn't realize that Callie is having the attendant ring up their items together.
"And how long were you two together?"
"We weren't. Like I said, he was my best friend. He was like my Mark, just without the sex."
"No sex? At all?" Arizona arches her eyebrow and stares Callie down, making the younger woman regret ever teaching the blonde her signature stare down. Callie pauses to pay for their purchases, which is enough to let Arizona know that there was a thing between them.
Callie, having learned the hard way what keeping things from Arizona does to their relationship, waits until they are outside, away from prying ears before answering.
"Junior year, Spring Break. We went to Cocoa Beach. There was a drunken night. I honestly don't remember any of it – at least the sex part – and when we woke up… well, it was awkward, and weird, for the longest time afterwards. Eventually we realized that neither of us wanted to lose the friendship, so we vowed never to speak of it again, unless we were detailing our sexual history to a significant other."
"You didn't mention it last summer?"
"How many people have you told about your first? Jesse is not something I talk about, not to family of significant others. If you want to tell them, I don't have a problem with it, but it's not something I talk about."
"Okay." Arizona accepts, thankful that Callie opened up to her about him.
It's only when Arizona realizes that they're putting their bags of things into the trunk when she realizes that Callie paid for her things as well as her own.
"Calliope!"
"What?"
"I had over $150 worth of stuff there. You shouldn't have paid for it." Arizona put her hand on Callie's arm. After her father took her trust fund away, after the date that almost broke them up, they decided to each pay their own way.
"Oh." Callie blushed as they got into the car. "Dad gave me my trust fund back after I agreed to come home for this." She hadn't told Arizona or anyone else about it, she didn't want her family money to cause any more drama. "I put a chunk of it away in a private account this time, which he doesn't know about." She added.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Arizona asked, taking Callie's hand in hers, wrapping their fingers around each other's.
"I didn't want to make a big deal about it." Callie muttered, looking at Arizona when she stopped at a red light. "Are you mad?"
"No." Arizona shook her head. "Just don't keep stuff from me. You know my mind, it jumps to the worst and then I get tense and we fight over whose turn it is to make the bed."
"I still think it was your turn." Callie took a left as she headed back to Torres manor. "Do you play beach volleyball?" She asked Arizona as she drove.
"Do I play?" Arizona grinned, her dimples coming out in full force. "I was a three time setting champ in the summer league when I was 15, 16 and 17."
After the girls got back to the house they unloaded the car and brought their stuff to their room to put away and get ready to go to the beach. Callie picked out her new blue bikini and Arizona her new purple one. They put on tank tops, shorts and flip flops before walking downstairs.
"I didn't tell anyone about it." Aria's voice was coming from her bedroom.
"I swear to God if you did I will make you wish you weren't born." A deep male voice came from the same room. "If you weren't such a little tease I wouldn't have had to teach you a lesson." Callie and Arizona stopped in their tracks at the tone of the male voice.
"I wouldn't tell anyone Jimmy, I love you." Aria's voice sounded slightly defeated and nervous. Callie could tell she was in trouble but her feet were frozen to the hardwood floor. "You know I do."
"I will see you tonight. I got to go see my kids mom to make sure she knows what will happen if she keeps trying to get money for the little bastards from me." The man opened the door, walking past Arizona and Callie like they weren't even there.
Callie saw Aria sit down on her bed, head in her hands. She walked – Arizona knowing it was best to let the two sisters be alone – into Aria's room. "¿Qué está pasando Aria?" Callie whispered, sitting next to her little sister and putting her arms around her.
"Él no hizo nada." Aria lied to her sister. "He's a good man Callie; I just couldn't keep my mouth shut. You of all people know I have a problem with that." She turned her face, Callie seeing the black eye she had hid with makeup for a week.
"I am going to kill him." Callie said the moment she saw the black eye. "No one is worth getting hit for Aria. I thought you were smart enough to know that."
"You don't get it." Aria stood up quickly and started to pace the room. "Jimmy es un buen man, he only does this cuando no puedo mantener mi boca cerrada." She moved from Spanish to English.
Callie stood and shut the door, looking at her sister. "That is the biggest sack of bull I have ever heard from you, Ariadne Torres." She crossed her arms over her chest. She loved her sister even if they were like gasoline and a match.
"Callie, just forget what you heard alright?" Aria turned to look at her older sister. She had never wanted anyone to know how she failed, how she let down Jimmy to the point he had to discipline her. "I slept with someone who I met at a bar because I was drunk, I don't even remember his name. I told Jimmy and he punished me. End of story."
"Aria I can't do that, I can't forget the tone of the voice he used with you." Callie took a few steps toward her sister, for the first time in a long time she felt like a protective big sister.
"You need to." Aria snapped at her. "Or Jimmy is just going to get mad at me for telling you anything and make it worse." She closed her eyes to keep herself from telling her sister just how bad it really was at times. "I am in love with him and I would never hurt someone I was in love with, that's the different between you and me."
Callie shook her head. "No Aria the difference between you and me is that when I wake up in the morning I know the name of the person lying next to me." She walked out of the room, grabbed Arizona's hand and pulled her toward the deck so they could hit the beach.
"Callie . . . wait . . . stop pulling me." Arizona finally got Callie to stop once they were outside. "We can't not do something to help her. She's scared and that asshole has her convinced she deserved to be hurt."
"I'm not going to get into it. Aria wants to get the shit kicked out of her then she can. I don't care anymore." Callie whispered, wishing she had something to drink so she could forget about the last 15 minutes and go back to the mood she was in when she walked out of her bedroom. "I just want to go down to the beach with my girlfriend and forget I ever tried to help her." She put on of her hands in Arizona's. "Please?"
Arizona took a breath, if it was Erin in her bedroom with a black eye and broken ribs Arizona would have locked her in there and not let her out until she agreed to press charges but she knew that her relationship with Erin and Callie and Aria's relationships were very different.
"Alright." Arizona whispered softly, knowing she needed to let Callie think and process this.
Arizona and Callie grabbed towels, an umbrella and a few beers and took them down to the private part of the beach where a volleyball court was set up.
"I haven't played in a few years, so take it easy on me." Callie said, knowing how Arizona got when any version of competition came up.
"I always take it easy on you Calliope." Arizona laughed, taking her tank top and shorts off and grabbing a bottle of sun block. "Wanna put it on my back?" She asked Callie, making sure to try to get her mood back up.
Callie walked over to Arizona and grabbed the bottle from her. She put a little in her hand and covered her girlfriend's back with it. "When I was younger Aria put it on my back once but left a patch where she spelled her name out. I had Aria on my back for two weeks."
Arizona couldn't help but giggle at the story. "I might have to try that next time Erin and I are at the beach together." She took the bottle from Callie so she could put some on her arms, legs and torso. "Want me to do you?" She asked innocently.
"I think that is a given Dr. Robbins."
Callie turned and let Arizona spend a lot more time than was needed to put sun block all over her unreachable places. Enjoying the way her lover knew just the right way to touch her skin. Her mood was broken a few moments later when the last two people she ever thought would be, walked up the beach.
Samantha Dixon and Callie were rivals for everything in high school over everything. Grades, after school activities, who they dated, what they drove. Sam was tall and thin and had no problem using her good looks, her red hair and green eyes to get men to do just what she wanted.
"Callie, so nice to see you again." Sam said, Callie couldn't tell if she meant it or not. "You remember my sister Amy."
Callie nodded; Amy and she never really were friends but never had problems with the other either. "This is Arizona Robbins, my girlfriend." She found it a lot easier to tell her once she saw Sam's eyes bug out a little.
"What do you two say to a little friendly game of volleyball?" Sam asked once she could talk again. Sam didn't do friendly anything and Callie knew that.
"What do you think Arizona?" Callie asked, giving her a look that said she better agree and bring her A game.
"I think it is a wonderful idea." Arizona smiled her dimpled grin. She caught the look on Callie's face and made a mental note to ask for the back-story later.
Callie and Arizona walked over to their side of the court and took a moment to talk while Amy and Sam talked. "We need to kill them." Callie said in a low voice she normally only had while dealing with bad residents. "Like hit Alex with a brick, take Cristina down a peg, tell off a father who is calling his son a faker beat down." Callie had a slightly sour look on her face.
"I think I can handle that." Arizona smiled her dimpled grin. Both women moved to their places on the court, letting the other team serve first.
"One game to 21, must win by 2?" Sam asked Callie who nodded. She served the ball hard at Arizona who dug it to Callie. Callie set it a little farther back than she wanted but Arizona jumped and spiked it, it landed right on the back line.
"One-nothing." Arizona said in her perky tone as she walked back to serve. Callie smirked as she looked at Arizona before shaking her head and getting ready to play the most important volleyball game of her life.
Callie and Arizona sat down after Sam and Amy left. Thanks to Arizona they won 27 to 25. "You are an amazing athlete." Callie whispered, sitting behind Arizona with her arms around her waist.
"With the family I grew up with are you surprised?" Arizona teased Callie, opening her beer and taking a very long drink. "And it was fun to beat someone that you don't like." She liked sitting this way with Callie, she felt protected.
"Do you want to hear the story of why we hate each other so much?" Callie whispered, putting her chin on Arizona's shoulder, nuzzling her neck softly. Even hot and sweaty Arizona smelled like peaches, it was her body wash and her shampoo.
"If you want to tell me." Arizona whispered, closing her eyes at the feeling of Callie's lips on her skin. Callie had the ability to make Arizona fall deeper in love with her just by how much love was in her touch.
"I was kind of a big deal in high school." Callie said, taking a drink of her beer. "I was good at school, good at sports, had a lot of friends." She spoke softly, from most people Arizona would have found that pompous but not from Callie. "Sam and I were a lot alike but I was always a little ahead of her. She got an A, I got an A+; she got a part in a play and I'd get the lead. So she hated me and took it out by sleeping with the first guy I fell in love with."
Arizona leaned back against Callie a little more, taking her hand and placing a soft kiss on her wrist. "I'm sorry she hurt you, Calliope." She turned in her girlfriend's arms and kissed her lips softly. "I brought the brick Mark gave me; do you want me to hit her with it?"
Callie couldn't help but laugh at Arizona's comment. "No, I think kicking her ass at volleyball was enough. I have to say you are very hot when you are playing sports."
Arizona blushed, her blue eyes sparkling. "You too. You are one badass, you know that?"
Callie smiled, kissing Arizona on the cheek. "Wanna go in and get some dinner? Mama and Papa have dinner plans so we are on our own tonight."
"Can you make your chicken piccata?" Arizona had decided that would always be their dish.
"If we have the stuff." Callie nodded, smiling at the blond. "But I expect you to provide dessert."
"I think I know just the thing for you to eat." Arizona smirked as they got up.
Callie and Arizona both needed showers to get the sand and sweat off, they changed into jeans and tank tops before going down to the kitchen for dinner. "I think I'm going to go see my grandparent's tomorrow. Do you mind if I go alone?"
"I think it would be safer if you did." Arizona nodded as she sat at the table in the kitchen to watch Callie cook, something she loved to do.
"I just hope they understand." She whispered softly as she cut some things up. "I mean my grandfather has been like a second father to me, he was always the one that told me that no matter what I did he would be proud to call me his granddaughter."
"He still should be. You are an amazing woman, Calliope." Arizona smiled, leaning back and watching Callie's strong hands work.
"You're not so bad yourself." Callie smiled back, putting the dish in the oven and washed her hands. She sat in the chair next to Arizona, putting the blonde's feet in her lap. "You were just rated the top PEDS surgeon in the country."
"Saw that did you?" One of the medical journals came out with a list of the rankings for different specialties; Arizona had been top 3 in PEDS for the last few years. "You were fifth on the ortho list."
"Derek and Mark made their lists too. The hospital board has to be happy to have the press; I think we ended up with 12 on the lists." Callie rubbed Arizona's foot as they talked, enjoying these easy convocations.
Aria walked down and the mood that Callie and Arizona had been enjoyed popped like a balloon. "Got a date with Jimmy, don't wait up." Her skirt was ungodly short and her shirt didn't hide much. Before Callie could say anything she was gone.
"I'm scared for her, Arizona." Callie whispered, looking at her girlfriend, tears in her brown eyes.
"I know." Arizona took her hand, having no idea what to do.