Title: Understanding
Author: Jrn77
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Summary: The morning/day surrounding the events before Bailey's wedding
Rating: T for now
Disclaimer: All characters belong to ABC/Shonda Rhimes.
Note: Any ideas what you want to read next?
Appreciate
As human beings, we have the tendency to take the smallest and yet simplest things that we encounter in our everyday lives for granted. Whether its a complete stranger holding a door open for us, or even a person paying for your coffee as they stand in front of you in the never ending line. But,the second something is ripped from our lives, we need it back. We don't take the time to love what we have but we have the time to grieve over what is lost.
For Callie and Arizona, almost everything was lost. The foundation of their heart warming loving marriage was practically demolished. But,they never lost sight of the little things that made their relationship unique from all of the rest. It was the simple baby steps of progress they were making that managed to get the both of them through what seems like a never ending journey towards closure.
It was around 6:30am when Arizona was awoken from the small beams of sunlight shining into their bedroom. As she tried to roll over and shield her eyes from daylight, she realized that her blankets had suddenly became tangled within her body parts,almost engulfing her into her own bed. Then, she realized those weren't sheets. It was her wife.
Her wife who had been sleeping on the couch, at work, and even her dead best friends bed. After months of watching Callie stand at their bedroom door frame,Arizona finally decided to let her back into their bed. Arizona could see in Callie's big brown eyes the disparity they carried. The desperate want for Callie to just lay down next to Arizona and hold her. Hold her and never let go.
"Callie..." Arizona said quietly,realizing then in that moment how truly peaceful her wife looked as she laid next to her asleep. Regretting her decision to try and wake her wife who had practically overtaken her side of the bed, Arizona instead snuggled her head into Callie's neck.
"Ari..." Callie began to speak,but Arizona began to kiss her neck, not letting Callie finish.
Callie smiled as she began to breathe in the scent of her wife. A scent that missed so much. She kissed the top of her head, and pulled her closer into her arms.
"You know,you are the biggest bed hog I have ever met." Arizona stated in a playful voice.
"Sorry,I'll move over. I didn't mean to take up your space..." Callie says,clearly not understanding the sarcasm in her wife's remark.
"Callie...I was kidding. I don't mind. It's kinda been cold in here without you to be honest."
Arizona grabs onto the hand that Callie has stretched across her side. She then continues to speak.
"But if you can,could you loosen your grip on my shirt. I think you might rip it off if you pull any tighter."
Callie immediately lets go of the fabric and puts her hand on top of her own head. Arizona notices the devastated facial expression that has now taken over Callie's once glowing face.
"Cal...whats the matter?" Arizona says quickly as she pulls both of her hands to keep Callie's head from falling onto the bed. She watches as Callie takes in a deep breathe,fearful of the words she is about to release.
"Those nights you were missing,I sat in our bed. I just sat here holding your pillow because it was the closest thing to you. I held it and never let go,because I was afraid that if I did,that you really were gone."
Arizona overwhelmed by the sadness that has just been released from her ever so beautiful wife's face begins to kiss the top of head as she feels Callie's tears trickle down her face and onto the sheets.
"Its okay, its okay. I'm here now. You don't have to let go because I am always coming back okay? You can hold my hand all day and lay with me or whatever makes you remember that I am here now."
They continued to lay in their bed,enjoying one another's company. A moment they had been working towards for months now. But they both had surgeries,and eventually a wedding to go to.
Fast forward. Hours later.
After Callie decides to explain her harsh yet honest feelings about Arizona's missing limb,they now face the car ride to the wedding that neither are quite excited to be attending. Especially,the ever so enthused Arizona.
After sitting in silence for most of the ride there,Callie decides to break the ice. After awkwardly gripping the steering wheel and constantly glancing over to Arizona for what seems like hours,she finally beings to speak.
"Doesn't it seem like this was just us."
Arizona finally turns her head from gaze outside the window to face Callie, pulling her eyes down to form an almost evil facial expression. A facial expression that could burn holes through anyone or anything in her path.
"What do you mean just like us. Because from what I remember,I don't think we ever sat in a car without talking or singing. Well,mainly me talking and you staring like usual."
Callie could immediately sense the irritation within Arizona's tone. Once again,the anger was unleashed.
"No...I wasn't talking about the car ride. I was talking about getting married..our wedding day..."
Arizona immediately pulled the angered look off of her face. How could I be such a monster? How could I miss all the happiness in this day?
"Oh...right." Arizona says with a small sad smile.
"It seems like it was literally yesterday that Mark was walking me down the aisle and all I kept thinking was that I was going to trip and fall in front of everyone. But,then. I saw you."
Arizona's small sad smile slowly turned into a larger one as she thought of that exact moment. In a spur of the moment choice,she found herself suddenly gripping onto Callie's hand that was on the center dash.
"I saw you and I knew I wouldn't fall because I needed to make it to the end. To make it there to tell you how much I love you and how I never want to spend another day without calling you my wife.
Arizona was still in the process of forgiving. Still in the process of getting her groove back. She was still learning how to use her words again. But,she could still use her actions to show that she wasn't as cold inside as Callie thought she was.
As the light in front of them turned red,Arizona moved from her seat and kissed the side of Callie's face. A gesture that caused Callie's entire face to turn bright red,as red as the street light hanging in front of them.
"I remember that day too," Arizona began.
"I saw you walking in front of me and for once in my life, I felt complete."
It wasn't a heartfelt I love you and I can't live without you and our ten kids. It wasn't as noble of a speech as Callie had given. But,it was words.
Callie grinned and continued to look forward,focused on the road.
Arizona returned her hand to the center dash,pulling Callie's free hand with her. The rest of the ride there they sat in silence. But,Arizona smiled the entire way as she rubbed her fingers over the ring that was positioned on her wife's hand. A ring that meant commitment. Through good,bad,happy,and sad. It meant forever.
