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Chapter 2
It wasn't long at all until Faith had completely settled in at her new school. As far as Arizona was aware she'd made firm friends with Sofia and Zola and a couple more people in her class. Things weren't the same for Arizona unfortunately. This hospital seemed so big, there were so many people compared to the last place she worked. Arizona wasn't surprised that she was often left on her own. She got on well with Alex Karev who worked with her in peds, but he had a group of friends to sit with for lunch, and Arizona was far too shy to intrude on that. Instead she gazed from a distance, watching Alex sit down to lunch with Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang, Arizona was pretty much in awe.
Not that she hadn't been successful herself. Meredith Grey may be a big name in medicine thanks to her mother and Cristina Yang had won a couple of Harper Avery's but Arizona allowed herself to think of when she won the Carter Madison Grant. It was a huge deal, getting to work in Africa for three years taking care of sick children whose parent's couldn't afford treatment. Her eyes shone when she told her parents what happened. They were pleased for her. Faith was ten and was a lot more independent, not exactly requiring the same attention that a toddler demanded. It was decided that Faith would live with her grandparents for the three years that Arizona was in Africa. It was the hardest thing in the world, saying goodbye to Faith in the airport. Arizona was back home no less than three months later.
She was interrupted by Callie Torres suddenly appearing beside her.
"Can I sit here?" The tall brunette asked. Arizona nodded as Callie took her seat. "You seemed lost in your own thoughts" Callie smiled.
"I'm sorry" Arizona apologized. "I often do when I'm alone" she trailed off.
"You'll make friends eventually" Callie smiled at her. "It took me a while to get settled in here, turns out all I had to do was get married and take the fall for someone who left their underpants lying around"
Arizona laughed nervously. She couldn't help thinking how much more scandalous this place seemed compared to her old place. In fairness, she was one of the youngest doctors in her old place, and there wasn't anything scandalous about a woman just doing her best to raise her niece.
"You still married?" She asked bluntly. She covered her mouth immediately. "That was nosey, you don't have to answer that".
"No" Callie smiled, although Arizona could tell she seemed a little sadder. "He died a long time ago, in the army"
"My brother died in the army too" Arizona commented, her shoulders deflating. "It must be hard on the kids losing a parent so young"
"Oh he wasn't Sofia's dad, her dad was another doctor here"
"Oh" Arizona smiled. "Does he still work here?"
"Actually" Callie began. "He's dead too"
Arizona couldn't think of what to say. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and things were uncomfortable for both of them.
"I'm so sorry" Arizona told Callie.
"It's fine, although Sofia was an accident, I was never dating her father. I was going through a rough time splitting up with my girlfriend Erica..." She trailed off.
"Oh" Arizona responded. Callie turned and looked at her.
"You don't have a problem with bisexuals do you?" She narrowed her eyebrows. "I know a lot of people who have had a problem with it, like my parents for example"
"What? No!" Arizona nearly yelled. "It would be a bit hypocritical for me to have a problem with you seeing as I'm gay" she bowed her head. She'd never been open with people about her sexuality before, people often found out but it wasn't through Arizona telling them. She wasn't fussed about it, it was no big deal for the people she loved, she was still accepted and loved the way things should be. She immediately felt sorry for Callie, she couldn't imagine raising Faith alone without the tremendous help her parents had provided the past 11 years.
"Oh" Callie smiled. "We should hit a couple bars one night, wing woman each other" she smiled.
Arizona blushed. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been flirted with, gone out on a date or had sex. Her life revolved around Faith and working. She shook her head.
"Thank you Callie, but Faith is only 14, I don't think I can leave her" she apologized. Callie understood.
"I understand" Callie smiled. "There's no way I'd leave Sofia on her own whilst I went to a bar"
"Maybe once I know the area a bit better" Arizona smiled. "Maybe you could come over for dinner with Sofia? I know our girls get on pretty well"
"That sounds good" Callie nodded. "And yeah they do. Me and Mer were worried about the kids, they are both so shy but Faith seems to be bringing out inner confidence in both of them".
Arizona laughed as Meredith came over to the table.
"Are you Faith's mom?" She asked.
"I'm her aunt" Arizona smiled.
"I mean I knew from Zola that you worked in the hospital but I had no idea you were our new head of peds" she smiled. "I'm Meredith Grey"
"I know" Arizona blurted out. Her cheeks flushed red again. "I've read about the work you're doing, both you and your husband" she stammered. "I'm Arizona, Arizona Robbins".
Meredith shook her hand.
"I was just saying how Faith has made the girls so much more confident" Callie informed Meredith.
"Definitely" Meredith nodded. "She's a good kid, I've only met her once or twice when I picked the girls up but she seems lovely"
"Thank you" Arizona beamed. It was obvious that she was very proud of her niece.
"So does Faith live with you?" Meredith asked, taking a bit of her apple.
"She does" Arizona nodded. She took a deep breath, knowing that this was the type of hospital that gossip would go round. "Her parents died when she was three, so I've had custody ever since"
"I'm so sorry" Meredith told Arizona. Arizona just shrugged. With each passing year the lost of her brother and Eleanor was getting easier. Now instead of just being in pain she could relive the good times they all shared together.
"Actually I was just talking to Callie about coming over to dinner with Sofia. You and your family should come as well" Arizona extended the invitation.
"Thank you" Meredith smiled. "That would be lovely, and I know Zola would be thrilled" she excused herself. "I have surgery, but it was nice finally having a conversation with you, let me know when the dinner is" she smiled leaving Callie and Arizona to it.
"You seemed a little starstruck"
"She's Ellis Grey's daughter, of course, I am" Arizona took a deep breath.
"Yeah, maybe don't mention that to her. Things weren't exactly great between Mer and Ellis"
"Got it" Arizona made a mental note. "Actually I have to run" she spotted Karev, leaving the table in front of her. "I have surgery"
"Okay" Callie smiled. "Like Mer said let me know about dinner, it will be nice"
"I definitely will" she smiled. She felt butterflies in her stomach, perhaps moving to Seattle wasn't such a bad move after all. Maybe soon she'd have a good group of friends after all.
"So let me get this straight" Faith began as Arizona prepared another dinner. "You invited Sofia and Zola's parents over for dinner"
"That I did" Arizona muttered. "Can you pass me the salt, please?"
"But you can barely cook!" Faith responded, passing the salt. "We live on pasta"
"Pasta is nice" Arizona muttered, looking down at the pasta cooking on the stove. She pulled a face. "Maybe I'll call grandma and ask for a recipe"
"Probably a good idea" Faith laughed. "So you finally had a conversation with the medical celebrity Meredith Grey. Bet you didn't think I'd beat you too it?"
"She's nice" Arizona smiled.
"Were you lame and starstruck?" Faith rolled her eyes.
"What? No?" Arizona stirred the pasta. "Okay maybe a little"
"Ugh" Faith pretended to be mortified. "So when is this big dinner happening?"
"I haven't decided yet" Arizona told her.
"This will be a disaster"
"I'm not that bad of a cook!" Arizona told her. "But if you think so then I guess I can eat all the pasta to myself hey?"
"No" Faith gave her aunt a quick hug. "I'm starving, you're the best cook in the world"
"Now I just feel like you're being sarcastic" Arizona grinned at her niece. "Go set the table"
"Right-O boss" Faith pretended to salute her and leapt down from the worktop. Arizona glared down at the pasta. She really was an idiot, why did she invite people over for dinner? Faith was right, she'd definitely live to regret it.