Hi guys, first let me say thank you, thank you and thank you to everyone that left a review. I was very nervous about trying to post this type of fic. But it just has so much material and potential of where it could go that I had to take a shot. I want everyone to know this is not a cure the lesbian fiction. It's just asking the question of "can you control who you fall in love with? And what happens when it's the last person on earth you would have ever chosen? So I will try to be respectful and truthful in the telling of this story and I hope you all enjoy it. Now I have changed a few things about Mark's past because I want to add a different dimension to the tale, namely he has siblings and his mother has died. Sorry for the type, the baby is indeed a girl, Sophia. So without any more interruptions here is the next chapter.

The Irony of it All

Two weeks later.

It had been two long grueling weeks since Calliope Torres had died. Things were not the same at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital. Chief of Staff Richard Webber stood staring out the large pane windows of walkway thinking if his attending and residents would ever truly be able to move on from the loss. They had been losing to many good people in that last few years. George O' Malley's death had been a heart wrenching blow, and then the shooting claimed more and it left its mark on everyone. But Callie dying while everyone on staff had tried and failed to save her, this had been the straw that broke the camel's back.

Rubbing his temples the older man blinked away the tears that were threatening to spill. His best pediatric attending had taken a leave of absence to help Mark take care of their ailing premature child. Little Sophia Calliope Sloane was holding on and gaining weight but it was a slow process that would take months for her to be out of the woods. Richard knew that if this child didn't make it, it would be the end of her two remaining parents. Sighing the decided to stop thinking about things he couldn't control and get back to the business of running the hospital.

NICU-SGMW hospital

Arizona slowly entered the room where her daughter was presently being housed. She had worked around the NICU many times before, caring for her patients but somehow it was different now that it was her child fighting for its life. Her child, she surmised to herself, as she glanced over at Mark Sloane slumped in a chair. His appearance looked haggard not the usual put together, "I'm so gorgeous women everywhere want me look. He face looked drawn even his sleep which was looking to be fitful at best. His once five o clock shadow was turning into a blondish brown beard and his clothes appeared rumpled.

Mark Sloane, she thought to herself as she leaned over the incubator where the tiny child lay. Her eyes were still taped shut but you could still make out the mass of black hair peeking under the baby cap on her head. Her chest rose and fell and all Arizona could think was "please just breathe baby" over and over. Again the thought came again to her. "I don't want a life with him. This isn't my dream" She shuddered at the memory of a conversation she had with Callie that night. She didn't want a life with him, she hadn't planned on it ever in any way since she had started dating Callie that she would have to include Mark Sloane in that life. But now, God, now she would give anything to have back THAT life rather than face thislife. She stared down at the little girl. "How the hell am I supposed to do this without you Callie" she whispered, only the beeping of the heart machine and the breathing tank breaking the silence.

"I've been asking myself the same question" Mark said softly. He hadn't moved a inch, although he had been staring at her for few moments while she looked attentively down at their daughter. He rose with some effort and joined her by the incubator. They stood inches away from each other side by side not speaking for a moment.

"She's going to be ok, she'll come through this" Arizona said fiercely, her hands on the plastic cover.

"She has too" Mark said with emotion.

The blonde tilted her head to side looking at him for a moment. She bit her bottom lip for a moment. "How is this supposed to work" she motioned between them with her hands. "How are we supposed to work?" she clarified when he just stared at her.

Mark sighed turning fully to her his arm folded across his broad chest. "I don't know Robbins" He said honestly. "But we better find a way"

Arizona swallowed contemplating the situation. "We hate each other Mark"

Mark nodded silently. "I- don't hate you, I just don't like you" he said with a ghost of smile at the corners of his mouth.

The blonde had to smile at his honesty he somehow managed to always say the first thing that came to mind. "I kinda hate you though" she said and then they broke out into laughter.

It felt good to laugh again. It had been so long since anyone was truly happy. The situation was hard to bear even when Callie was alive.

Mark nodded again this time with a smile on his face before turning serious. "Are you going to bail" He said quietly.

Arizona felt her head snapped up to attention and fixed with along cool stare.

"I have to know now "Mark said before she could respond. "I can do this..I mean it would be so hard but I'll do this. I'll be the dad, the single dad whose…He paused..Who lost the only woman he might ever love" He admitted finally, keeping his eyes locked on Arizona's. There was no need to lie to himself of her anymore now. "I could do it but I hope I won't have to" he said turning away from her piercing stare.

Arizona turned her attention back to the baby. She crossed her arms over her chest thinking, processing. "I'm not bailing Mark. But it's not going to be easy, we'll both have to really try" she said finally.

"I know" He accepted. "I'll try to see things from your point of view without thinking you're just looking reasons not agree with me.

Arizona smirked, "And I'll try and take you seriously"

The both stood quietly for a moment just taking in what they were agreeing to, a life with each other.

"Mark"

"Yes"

"I always knew"

"I know"

"She loved you too"

"Not enough though"

"If she had to pick, it would have been you"

"I doubt it"

"No, she would have. That's why I hated you so much"

"She loved you though, more than anyone that came before"

"Except for you"

The was silence then.

"I guess we will have to agree to disagree" He smiled. "See we can work together. Here that Sophie, 15 minutes together and no blood was drawn. You're mama and daddy is going to be alright"

There was a slight knock at the door startling them both. A slight man in grey suit appeared. He looked to be in his 30's with brown hair and glasses that slid to the tip of narrow nose. "Are you Dr. Marcus Ryan Sloane?"

Mark's blue grey eyes narrowed. "Yess"

The man smirked before shoving a envelope into the confused doctor's hand. "You've been served"

Arizona looked on with shock as Mark ripped open the envelope and read quickly out loud. "Dr Marcus Ryan Sloane, you are hereby ordered to appear in court concerning the custody of the minor Sophia Calliope Sloane, as brought to the court by Carlos and Lucia Torres.

Arizona felt a large migraine coming on, when was the universe going to stop fucking them over!