A/N: Sorry for the longish delay in posting. I had my finals this past week so I had to study. Then I finished my finals and had to celebrate (and became poor in the process). But I have graduated now and I'm on holidays. Thank you for all the reviews and alerts.
Arriving together to their first counselling session as a married couple, the wives wait for their appointment. Any subtly in hiding this distaste of this situation was gone and a new strategy needed to be implemented. Ever since Callie had insisted that Arizona reject the job offer at Seattle Grace, both women had taken to avoiding each other. Callie still felt betrayed that Arizona was invading both her personal and professional life. It wasn't Callie's fault that Arizona had a sexist boss so she couldn't understand why she had to be punished by the blonde's presence in her workplace. As paediatrics and orthopaedics were complementary fields – it will be inevitable that they will constantly be working on the same case. Especially since Callie was the best orthopod is the hospital and sick and injured children always get the best. Callie had been cursing the blonde's existence for a while now but this job acceptance had given her a new lease of life in this regard. Callie knew she was being childish – but this continuous fighting was exhausting.
In comparison, Arizona felt Callie should at least concede that a change in jobs meant she was out from under the thumb of her bigot boss. It seemed that whatever Arizona did was meet with condemnation. Since Arizona was yet to start at SGH, this avoidance tactic was working a treat. Arizona had taken to hiding in her room once her shifts were over while Callie stayed out long enough to ensure this had happened. This avoidance was the lesser of two evils considering the alternative was tearing strips off each other through cheap jabs.
Exacerbating the issue was the fact that Callie and Arizona resented the thought of attending counselling sessions. Although a natural reaction to the idea of counselling as the sessions are court ordered, the two women really don't have a choice. In Callie's words, counselling is for 'screwed up people and I don't fall in that category.' Arizona had scoffed at this statement replying that a woman who marries a complete stranger in Vegas probably had a couple of screws loose. Also, this wasn't something the wives wanted to do on their afternoon off as both would prefer to get a root canal in Guam using rusty equipment – by a blind man than sit side by side and talk about their problems.
Hearing their names called, the two women stand and follow after the secretary. 'You ready to do this?' Arizona asks, the tone of her voice confirming that this is the last place that she wants to be. Talking about her feelings with a stranger is almost as bad as marrying one (almost but not quiet).
'Pretend that I actually like you? Pretend that you don't want to make me go scrub my body with hospital grade antiseptic and vomit out of my nose? Yeah, I really want to do this.' As Callie's bitchy reply, as she stalks ahead of her wife. Arizona rolls her eyes in annoyance that Callie is still being so childish about this situation and continuing to call her an outbreak monkey of STD's. Arizona was clean, she had even got herself checked to ensure that this was the case. But everything was falling on deaf ears.
'God, you really are a one hit wonder when it comes to jokes. You need new material so don't give up your day job.' Arizona hisses out, wondering if it was too inappropriate to slap Callie on the back of the head. Maybe a brain injury would help snap Callie out of her bitchy behaviour. A itsy-bitsy brain bleed never hurt anyone.
'Well, at least I'm not a one hit wonder in bed because after one night with you, all the women run away in fear.' Comes Callie's quick retort glancing over her shoulder to see Arizona's reaction.
'I leave every woman I sleep with satisfied. Even you can't deny that' comes Arizona's smart reply. Callie can't come up with a suitable retort and remains silent because sadly Arizona is speaking the truth. 'Yeah, that's what a thought.' Arizona says, glad that for once she got the last word in.
Stepping into the counsellor's office, the two women sit close to each other as they attempt to look like a married couple. Minor squabbling over the seating placement, the two women finally are comfortable as they wait for their counsellor to appear. Pulling out their wedding bands, both women slip them back onto their appropriate finger. Spinning the ring on her finger, Arizona can't believe that she's married to this fiery, breath-takingly stunning Latina who also can't stand to be in the same room as her.
Bringing the conversation back to the issue at hand, Arizona lays down the game plan for the session. 'Look, all we need to do is pull the wool over the counsellor's eyes and make her believe that we are attempting this relationship. So just lie through your teeth, which should be pretty easy for you.' Arizona says, hoping that this session isn't like the train wreck their court case was. Arizona doesn't want to held in contempt of court as that would just top off her terrible year.
Watching their counsellor enter, both women attempt to hold in the grin. This woman looks like a washed up model with her bleach blonde hair and 3-inch heels. Arizona and Callie both believe that it will be a piece of cake misleading her and share a small grin with each other. United under a common goal, the women silently agree to put aside their differences for now. Both surgeons have already stereotyped her as a blond haired bimbo so this game of deception just got a hell of a lot easier. Introducing herself as Tina Crawford, she pulls out the women's file and briefly flicks through. Noticing that the women married in Vegas, the Counsellor wonders about the series of events that have led to these women verbally attacking each other before the judge.
Turning to Callie, the Counsellor kicks off the session with the question, 'So Callie, tell me a bit about yourself. What are your hobbies and so on?' Such a basic question is asked so the couple gets comfortable with talking to each other and the counsellor. After all the key to any relationships success is communication.
'Hobbies? Ah…oh…' Callie questions, perplexed at the line of questioning that the counsellor is taking. Callie had expected the question to focus on the barrage of insults her and Arizona hurled at each other in court. An elbow in her side from Arizona pulls Callie out of her stuttering mess as her mind scrambles for an answer. 'You mean besides my marriage?' Callie asks, laying on the fake sincerity and happiness as she lays a gently hand on Arizona's thigh. 'I like cooking meals for Arizona and breaking bones – but not at the same time. And not Arizona's bones – of course.' The wives let out an awkward laugh at Callie's failure at a joke. Their lacklustre performance as a happily married couple seems to be crashing before their eyes.
'And Arizona' the Counsellor asks, indicating that Arizona should answer the same question.
'Well I would have to agree with the first hobby that Calliope mentioned. My marriage is the most important thing in my life. But not the second two hobbies, I'm terrible cook but I'm a huge fan of eating.' Arizona hopes that by building off Callie's answers will be advantageous as she lays her hand on top of Callie's.
'Yeah, a different flavour every night for you.' Callie mutters under her breath so only Arizona can hear making reference to her bed-hopping tendencies. It had cut Callie deeply that she had simply become another notch on Arizona's bedpost and that Arizona had only ever felt a sexual attraction towards her. Arizona's lips tighten at the comment, but manages to hold in the retort on the tip of her tongue and instead she digs her nails into Callie's hand. Arizona continues to speak as she attempts to forget about the shooting pain from her heart as Callie's harsh words. Arizona wished she had a thicker skin and become immune to the jabs, but she can't. 'And I don't do bones, I'm a paediatric surgeon so that's my passion.' Arizona ends with.
The counsellor nods her head at the provided answers and scribbles away in her notebook. Raising her eyebrows as she observes the couple attempting to act all lovey-dovey, the Counsellor finds herself slightly insulted that two surgeons are trying to mislead her. 'I do have a bunch of degrees and I also went to expensive schools like you. I don't buy half the bullshit that you too are saying. I accept that Callie, you might like to cook, but I'm guessing you've never made a meal for Arizona. And the bones that you break, I'm pretty sure from that smart little jab you made towards Arizona means you would have no qualms about breaking some of her bones.'
Both surgeons open their mouths to retort being put in their place but quickly close them again as the last time they talked back they were sentenced to four months of hard marriage. Realising that their ploy has failed, Arizona picks up Callie's hand and drops it back in her own lap as physical contact is no longer required.
'And since according to the paperwork in front of me, you to have to make a valid attempt at this relationship. So if you want me to report back to the court that you two are making an attempt at this marriage, you are actually going to have to do that. You are going to have to try and make this relationship work. So let's start again shall we, with realistic and true answers. And I will forget about this little incident.'
'So Callie, tell me why you married Arizona and one thing you like about Arizona.' The counsellor has a plan to tackle the mess that is in front of her and she knows that the surgeons will be fighting against her every step of the way. According to the file in front of her, the couple married on the night they met which tells the Counsellor one thing – the women do have chemistry. No one marries a complete stranger, not matter how drunk they are unless there is a spark. And the counsellor intends to push and prod this couple until they pull their heads out of their arses and admit that this marriage could work.
'So you want the real answers?' Callie asks, slightly miffed that their deception plan had failed. Two surgeons couldn't even pull the wool the over the eyes of a measly psychiatrist. 'Well ok then, are you seriously asking me this question?' Callie comments, raising her eyebrows at this textbook question. 'We're paying out $160 an hour for this garbage, considering you have our file so you must have read up on our unorthodox wedding. I clearly picked the wrong profession, I should have done this for a living. Steady hours and all you have to do is listen to people yap all day. No pagers and no annoying interns. Although I would miss surgery' Noticing the counsellor's look, Callie's rant stops in mid-sentence, 'Oh, you still want me to answer that?'
Leaning over, Arizona whispers in Callie's ear 'Answer the damn question, I want to get out of this appointment as soon as possible.' Arizona's breath on Callie's ear causes her breath to hitch slightly and a lump to develop in her throat. Silently chastising herself for her reaction, Callie wishes she could get over Arizona. But from that one night in Las Vegas, Callie was hooked and couldn't seem to get loose. That one night, Callie had genuinely thought they had a connect, but that had gone down the drain.
'Well?' The counsellor continues to prod for an answer. This stubbornness isn't unusual with court appointment mediation as couples react to being forced to talk about their problems.
'I married Arizona because I was smashed and lonely. One thing I like about Arizona…' Although Callie can think of a lot of things she likes about Arizona; her smile, the genuine interest she had shown in Callie's research and the way she listened. These weren't things that she could mention now as all bridges had been burnt. 'Ah, she's opinionated and always speaks her mind?' Callie says in a questioning tone. At Callie's lacklustre and somewhat bitchy answer, the counsellor scribbles down some more notes. Finally, a truthful answer.
'Opinionated? Was this something that attracted you to Arizona when you first met?'
'Isn't it Arizona's turn?' Callie asks, hoping she can move out of the firing line. The raised eyebrows from the Counsellor tell Callie that she should stop answering back and just answer the questions or they are going to be in for a very long four months of counselling.
'No, when I first met Arizona I was initially attracted to her because of her appearance. She cornered my best friend and I at a restaurant about my research that I had just presented. And she took a genuine interest in my research, asking me questions and so on. I guess this first impressions swayed my vote and Arizona and her best friend shared dinner with us.' Scribbling away, the Counsellor continues to take notes. The avid note taking of the Counsellor surprises Callie as she doesn't think she's said anything overly interesting. So Callie judged a book by its cover and ended up married to her.
'And Arizona, the same question' The counsellor continues with as she looks at Arizona expectantly.
'Oh, I can answer this question for you' Callie cuts in, 'Arizona married me so she could get into my pants.' Arizona opens and closes her mouth in shock at Callie's disregard of Arizona's feelings and social etiquette.
'I believe I asked Arizona to answering her own question.' The Counsellor says, hoping to stave off a bitter argument which won't get them anywhere. Although some couples need to go backwards before they can move forward, if this couple moves any further backwards, they will fall off a cliff as they have no foundation.
'Why? Because I'm lying. Because Arizona never had legitimate feelings for me. All she wanted was a roll in the sheets so she could get off. Arizona has a fear of commitment so sleeping around she gets the best of both worlds – gets the sex but doesn't have to deal with anyone's issues as she can walk out of their lives in the morning. There is no other way to put this, no nice way to spin the story. Arizona was horny and I was lonely – and together with a large shot of alcohol, we got married.' Callie continues with. In Callie's eyes, there is no redemption of a relationship that didn't exist in the first place. Arizona can't stay quiet any longer and listen to this abuse on her character.
'Is that all I was to you? You were lonely and I gave you the attention that you craved? That the connection that we had wasn't anything special. That you could literally have pulled any woman off the streets and that would have sufficed? Do I mean that little to you?' Arizona asks in a small voice. Arizona wasn't expecting Callie to fall in love with her or anything like that, but she hadn't expected Callie to voice such disregard for Arizona's feelings and construct her as some sort of sexual monster who prayed on sweet and innocent women.
'Don't you dare act high and mighty. Our relationship is nothing. You. Are. Nothing. No one would ever want to build a relationship with you because you would run away at the first appearance of conflict. You are a coward.' Callie replies. Hearing those words come out of Callie's mouth is too much for Arizona. A terrible year has been exacerbated by her impromptu marriage. No one has given Callie the right to judge her and the ways that she lives her life.
'I'm done for today.' Arizona says, standing up and walking out of the room. Arizona won't just sit there and let Callie slander her character. Callie is on the war path and from experience, Arizona knows the situation will just get worse if she stays. There are only so many times that someone kicked to the ground can pull themselves back up. Pulling the wedding ring off her finger. Arizona slips it back into her pocket as there is no reason to pretend any longer.
XXXX
Sitting at the bar Arizona nursing a beer and over-analysis the debacle with was their first counselling session. Arizona hadn't moved for several hours as she replays the conversation again and again. Maybe Callie was right and she was a commitment-phobe and couldn't sustain a relationship. But to have all her dirty laundry aired and judged in such a manner had been too much for Arizona to handle. The sheer disgust in Callie's eyes as she outlined Arizona's bed-hopping ways had cut Arizona deeper than any of her past jabs. Arizona has never felt like such a failure as a woman before in her entire life. When Arizona had walked out of the session, she had felt like a dirty whore. Arizona knew that her sexual habits were unhealthy but she had tried relationships and just ended up getting burnt. So Arizona had entered self-preservation mode as she attempted to keep her head above water. Sitting by herself at the bar, Arizona has never felt so lonely before in her entire life.
Feeling someone slide up next to her, Arizona turns to see a pretty brunette take the stool next to her. Giving her the once over, Arizona notices the heels and short dress indicating that this woman is out for a good time. Crossing her legs on the bar stool next to her, Arizona finds that her eyes are drawn to this woman's legs.
'Let me buy you a drink? A pretty woman like you shouldn't be drinking alone.' The woman asks, hoping for an affirmative answer. Noticing the blonde nod her head, she signals the bartender indicting that they'll two more of whatever the blonde is drinking. 'I'm Kate', the woman continues with. Kate had been observing the blonde for over an hour. But Kate hadn't been the only one as a number of the single ladies checked out the striking blonde at the bar. The faraway look on Arizona's face had meant that she had remained undisturbed until now. But Kate had took a chance and looked like she was in with a shot. Arizona looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulder's and the bottom of her glass was not offering any comfort.
'I'm Arizona' she replies as she checks out the woman who has offered her a drink. Since her internal solace wasn't finding any answers, Arizona was hoping a distraction would make improve her mood and push Callie to the back of her mind.
'So are you here alone?' Kate asks as she glances around the bar looking for the blonde's companion. Although Arizona had been alone, Kate wouldn't be surprised if that allusive partner showed up. Arizona was easily the most attractive woman in the bar and the Darwinian laws of nature state that people this good-looking are never single.
'Yeah, I'm here alone.' Arizona replies taking a sip of her beer. She's already unloaded her problems once with a stranger and that turned out disastrous so Arizona keeps her response impersonal. Noticing the sadness in the blonde's eyes, Kate takes a lead in the conversation and one drink turns into two. Soon, Arizona is back to her bubbly self as she buries the hurt as she attempts to charm the pants off Kate – or a dress in this case. Arizona figures that if you have a skill she may as well use it and the chatter keeps her demons at bay.
Instead another issue arises as Kate give all the signals that she would like to continue this conversation in a more private setting. Kate's hand on her upper thigh makes Arizona feel wanted. The way Kate put a strand of blonde hair back behind Arizona's ear makes her feel desired. The fact that Kate listens and laughs at what Arizona is saying makes Arizona think that she is worth the effort. In fact Kate evokes all the feelings that Callie crushed.
As the hours pass by, the two women are soon chatting away and Arizona decides to seal the deal. Maybe tomorrow morning Kate will only remember the roll in the sheets with the blonde, but Arizona will take what she can get to pull herself out of this funk. Arizona is grasping at straws to push Callie out of her mind.
Leaning over to whisper in Kate's ear, 'Do you want to get out of here and head back to mine?' Arizona asks, hoping she's played her cards right.
Tonight, all Arizona want's is for someone to desire her, even if it's just for a quick release. Kate nods her head and both women head out of the bar in each other's arms. Arizona pushes the thought that she is doing exactly what Callie described her as to the back of her mind. After all, what would Callie know?