Title: Meeting in Paradise (4/?)

Author: iheartcallietorres (laurenxx3 on LJ)

Pairing: Callie/Arizona

Rating: PG-13 (for now)

Summary: AU - Callie and Arizona meet for the first time in Fiji. Sparks fly.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. All characters belong to Shonda Rhimes/ABC. I don't own anything. Any similarities to real life situations/persons are purely coincidental. Not for profit; for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: I have absolutely NO medical knowledge beyond what I see/hear on Grey's Anatomy, so forgive me of any medical-related errors. Also, this is un-beta'd, so all mistakes are mine. Please let me know if you come across any. As always, comments are much appreciated (and will encourage me to write more fics in the future - *hint, hint*).

A/N 2: Okay, so this chapter is a lot of conversation. Actually, it's mostly conversation, but I don't think y'all will mind. Also, thank you so much for all the comments and reviews! I wasn't too sure about this story at first, so I'm glad y'all seem to be enjoying it. : )


[Arizona's POV]

After Calliope dropped me off at my cousin's timeshare house, I decided to take a bubble bath in the gigantic tub with the amazing jets. I did all my best, most important thinking either while running or in the bath tub. Seeing as running was out of the question, I opted for the bath, where I could totally relax and focus on the issue at hand.

I carefully lowered myself into the water, taking care not to jostle my still-injured ankle, and laid back in the hot, steamy water. I sighed in pleasure as the warmth engulfed me.

Calliope plagued my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about her lips against mine or the way it had felt to be lying beneath her in the sand. Amazing. Wonderful. So fucking hot.

If I was brutally honest with myself, I had to admit that if Calliope lived in Boston or even close by, I'd have thrown all my reservations about not getting involved with someone out the window. I felt that strongly about her.

But she didn't live in Boston or nearby. She lived in Seattle. That's at least two thousand miles away from Boston, if not more. And I don't believe in long-distance relationships. There was no point in dating someone if I couldn't see them whenever I wanted to.

But then there's the fact that I really wanted to leave Boston. It was time for a change, no doubt about that, but I wasn't about to choose a hospital to work at just because it was convenient to date a person I'd just met a little over a day ago.

However, Seattle Grace was a top teaching hospital. I'm not even sure I could get the Head of Peds position that Calliope had mentioned earlier in the day.

But if Calliope and I had never moved past the point of friends, I probably would have looked into it once I returned home to Boston without a second thought. I would have applied and, if I got the job, moved in a heartbeat to Seattle.

But this complicated things.

A lot.

I didn't want a personal relationship to affect my career.

So the question I have to ask myself is: Can I keep my feelings for Calliope out of the equation if I were to consider Seattle Grace Hospital?


[Callie's POV]

After dropping Arizona off and helping her inside, I returned to my private stretch of beach. I stood in the surf as I stared out into the water and allowed my mind to replay the night's events. I lifted my fingers to brush over my lips, remembering the feel of Arizona's soft lips against them.

I was at a complete loss.

I've only known Arizona for one day. But I already felt like I knew so much about her. I knew she was smart, beautiful, sweet and had a bit of a child-like enthusiasm about her, most likely breed from her job in Peds. Normally, I would find that annoying, but not in Arizona. The perkiness was becoming on her and made me like her that much more. I also knew that she wasn't happy at her job in Boston.

And Seattle Grace needed a Head of Peds.

I shook my head. That was ridiculous. We barely knew each other. I couldn't suggest that she quit her job and move across the country for me.

But, maybe I could suggest that it would be a wise career move. Because, in all honesty, it would be. Seattle Grace had moved up in its teaching hospital rankings since our low number twelve ranking two years ago. We were now back to a respectable number four, expected to move up a place or two in the coming months.

I sighed heavily. I was still confused.


[Arizona's POV]

I had just poured myself a cup of coffee when the doorbell rang. I carefully made my way to the front door and peaked out through the window before flipping the lock. I opened the door to reveal Calliope, looking more gorgeous than before, if that was even possible, in dark wash jean shorts and a simple white fitted t-shirt. Her hair was down, flowing around her shoulders in the breeze of the Fijian coast.

"Hey," she said, sliding her hands into her back pockets.

"Hey," I replied, unsure of what to do. I opted on stepping aside, silently granting her permission to enter. I closed the door behind her and a tense silence fell over us.

"Um, I just wanted to apologize for last night," Calliope finally said, breaking the silence.

"For what?" I asked.

She finally looked at me and I saw the nervousness in her expression. "For…" she started, then stopped, shaking her head. She ran her fingers through her hair, tussling it even more. "Hell, I don't know. Because I'm not sorry. It's been a long time since a simple kiss made me feel like that."

I raised my eyebrows. "It wasn't just a 'simple kiss,' Calliope," I pointed out. "But I feel the same way. Actually, I'm not sure I've ever felt quite like that before."

She looked down at her sandal-clad feet and sighed. "So, what are we gonna do?"

I deliberately didn't answer because I honestly didn't know. "Do you want some coffee?" I asked.

She looked up at me and gave a small smile. "I'd love some."

I nodded once and made my way to the kitchen. I was reaching for a mug when she stopped me. "Sit," she ordered, leading me to a chair. I sat as instructed. "You shouldn't even be walking on your ankle," she said. She reached into the cabinet and got a mug, then poured herself some coffee. "How's it feel today?" she asked, indicating my ankle.

I shrugged. "Better," I said. "Still swollen."

She nodded, then sat in the chair across from me. "So we're just going to act like it didn't happen?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but couldn't figure out what exactly to say. I sighed. "Calliope, we both said we're not looking for a relationship and I don't do casual… flings."

"Neither do I," she answered, paused, then shrugged. "Anymore," she added. "And I'm not looking for a relationship, but sometimes things happen that you don't expect to. Beautiful women sprain their ankles on your private beach and you're instantly hooked."

"We still live two-thousand miles apart," I pointed out.

"Three thousand, thirty-two miles," Calliope said. "According to Google Maps. I looked it up last night."

I wrinkled my nose. "That only serves to further illustrate my point, Calliope. I don't do long distance relationships. I don't believe in them. And three thousand miles is definitely long distance." I paused. "I also did some research last night."

She looked at me in question.

"I researched Seattle Grace," I said. "Because if that kiss hadn't happened tonight and we'd remained just friends, I would have looked into it anyway. I would have applied for the Head of Peds position as soon as I got back to Boston. So why should that change just because we made out a bit?"

"You're going to apply for the job? In Seattle?"

I noticed her face beginning to light up, so I had to throw a bit of a warning in there. "I'm going to apply, but I'm not confident I could even score an interview. Seattle Grace is a difficult place to get into and I'm not sure I can get a good letter of recommendation from Dr. Aarons, the Head of Peds at Mass Gen. I'm not his biggest fan."

"Why not?" she asked.

"Remember that article in The Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics I mentioned? The one about Infantile Osterosarcoma?"

She nodded.

"I wrote that just before Dr. Aarons came to work at Mass Gen. When he got there, he took over my research. Like that." I snapped my fingers for effect. "I tried to fight for it, but I only made him mad."

She looked angry. "Why did you stay?" she asked. "Why are you only now considering transferring?"

I sighed. "Because my entire family is in Boston. And I moved around so much as a kid that the fact that I've been in the same place for more than three years is like heaven to me. When my dad retired and my parents settled in Boston, it was natural that I make it my home. I looked around at other hospitals in Boston, but they either aren't hiring or aren't even in the top fifty." I sighed. "I've only just recently come to the conclusion that if I want to get away from Mass Gen, I have to get out of Boston. And it makes me sad to think about leaving my family and friends behind."

Calliope silently listened to my long-winded speech, taking in what I had to say. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't think about that. I mean, when I moved to Seattle, it was a new adventure for me. I had lived in Miami my entire life until I went away to college, then med school. My parents still live in the same house that I was literally born in."

"Excuse me?"

She shrugged and grinned. "I was a really quick delivery. They didn't have time to get to the hospital, so the EMTs delivered me at home."

"You sure do know how to make an entrance, huh?"

She chuckled. "It's a gift," she said, then turned serious. "Moving to Seattle was a whole new adventure for me, so I didn't realize that leaving Boston would be so hard on you."

I shrugged. "I've accepted that it's going to happen," I said. "And I'm prepared to apply for the position at Seattle Grace, but I'm not sure I'd get it."

"Chief Webber is an amazing guy. He's like a father figure to us all. And if your research on Infantile Osteosarcoma is any indication of what kind of surgeon you are, I'm sure he'd hire you in a minute. That article was brilliant, Arizona." I blushed. "I was," she insisted. "And I know a lot about Osteosarcoma. I'm a bone doctor."

"That was years ago," I said.

She blushed this time. "I may have researched you as well last night," she said sheepishly, avoiding eye contact.

"And?" I prompted.

She looked me straight in the eye. "And from what I read, you're a genius when it comes to little kids and surgery."


[Callie' POV]

When Arizona told me that she was considering on applying to Seattle Grace, I felt like I was on cloud nine. After the things I've read about her on Google, I had no doubt that the Chief would love her.

"How about this?" I said. "We keep having a good time while we're both still here in Fiji-enjoy the culture, the food, the beach and whatever else Fiji has to offer-and we let things happen however they happen. When you get back to Boston, look into the job at Seattle Grace. If it sounds like a place you want to be and you get the job, you move to Seattle. If you don't like it or, if for some insane reason you don't get the job, you look elsewhere and we'll know that we just weren't meant to be. Let fate decide."

"Fate?" Arizona questioned. "You want to leave it all up to fate?"

I grimaced. That didn't sound like me at all, but it was all I had at the moment. "I don't know what else to do," I said. "All I know is that I really like you and not doing something about that just seems… wrong."

"So you're suggesting…?"

"That we not think about anything but the seventeen days we have left together in Fiji. Just enjoy being with each other."

Arizona sighed. "As much as I want to say no because we both stand a good chance of getting our hearts broken, I can't. I can't say no to you."

I couldn't stop the smile from forming on my lips. I stood and rounded the table, reaching for her. She took my hand and stood. My lips found hers of their own accord and I groaned softly in appreciation, which she echoed. We kissed hungrily and I stepped closer, bringing our fronts together. Her arms encircled my waist.

"What happens when we leave?" Arizona whispered when we parted.

"Nuh uh," I said, shaking my head. "The world beyond these seventeen days don't exist, remember?"

"Calliope," she growled.

I shook my head and looked at her imploringly. "Please?"

She sighed and looked up at me with those beautiful blue eyes. "Seventeen days, huh?"

I nodded. "Seventeen days." And then I kissed her.


Author's Note: Hey guys! I just wanted to let y'all know that I'm am most likely going to have to up the rating from 'T' to 'M' with either the next chapter or the one after that. That means this won't show up unless you say that you want to view "All Ratings," not just the "K-T." Thanks! : )