Title: Strawberries & Whip Cream: The Secret Weapon [Part 6] The End
Author: JCapzona
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Disclaimer: All television shows and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings ext. are the properties of their respective owners. This work is non-profit and simply written for fun. Reference to persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be factual.
Summary: Resolution is a sweet word. After seeing Callie miss the line, step on the line and cross the line, Arizona gets her sweet revenge and the last laugh. A cutesy, dimpled laugh.
Author's Note: This is unfortunately the last chapter update to "Strawberries and Whip Cream: The Secret Weapon". I hope you guys had just as much fun reading it as I did writing it! Let's hang onto our sanity together as we brace ourselves for the unfolding of 6X18, I'm thinking there will be enough drama for the Calzona team on-air to keep us going for a while. Thanks again for reading guys & as always I love hearing from everyone so please give me a shout via reviews! This is the end my friends~ hope you guys enjoyed the ride!
***Arizona voiceover***As children, we dream. We dream of angels and fairy dust, we dream of magical lands in kingdoms far far away. We dream of the imaginary. We dream of the impossible. Because we don't know any better. We dream because we can. And sometimes, on those rare starry nights when the moon is glistening and the sense of mystery is in the air, we can't help but to dream of our future. We can't help but to dream of what we'll be when we "grow up". We see the mansion, we see the career, we see the life that awaits us, and we can't help but to smile at the prospect and optimism that clings onto the words of "when I grow up…". But as children, what we never dream of, what we never see, is the disappointment, the challenge that awaits us when our dreams diverge from reality. What do we do when our life takes an unusual turn, twists onto a darker, gloomier, unexpected road? What do we do, when things don't turn out… exactly as we dreamt?
Callie gasped deeply as she struggled to find her breath. She thought back to the scene that had just escaped her moments ago. The image of Arizona's expression of pain and sadness was burned into the skull of the ortho-goddess. The memory of Arizona when she looked out towards Callie behind the closing elevator doors dug through her heart as Callie ran up the final flight of stairs. She felt light-headed after lunging up fifteen flights of stairs. It made her blood run as adrenaline pulsed through her veins.
As Callie shoved open the metal door to the roof of SGMV, she was greeted with the heart-breaking sound of a weeping blonde peds surgeon, she could recognize that sound anywhere and it drove a spike down her heart to hear Arizona's suffering. The roof of SGMV was mostly empty, with a couple vents here and there that protruded out of the floor, mostly it was empty because it was also used as a landing pad for emergency patients that had to be brought here via helicopter. Callie's breathing was still rugged from her marathon up the stairs. She didn't have to watch the elevator numbers going to up know where Arizona had run off to, because her girlfriend always went to the roof whenever she needed to cry. Whenever Arizona had a little patient who didn't' make it, she would hide behind one of the vents and pour out her suffering in tears, tears that she kept hidden from everyone else at the hospital, even Callie.
Arizona didn't know, but Callie always followed her up here secretly whenever she came here after a failed surgery. Callie wanted to give Arizona her privacy because she knew that the perky peds surgeon needed her secret crying place on the roof in order to maintain her cheery bubbly exterior within the walls of SGMV, but Callie needed to be there for her, even if it was from afar. She needed Arizona to feel her presence, even if she wasn't fully aware of it.
So when Callie reached the roof of SGMV, she didn't waste time looking for Arizona behind every nook and cranny because she knew where she would be. It was always the same vent, the same place, the same hole that Arizona would dig herself in and pour out her sadness. Callie's heart cringed as she approached her tear-splotched girlfriend who was hyperventilating through her tears as she buried her head in her knees which she had pulled in close to herself.
Callie looked at the mess she had created and it broke her to see how fragile Arizona looked. How shattered she was from the scene she had witnessed in the on-call room. Callie's guilt overwhelmed her as she gently placed her hand onto the sobbing figure's arm, awaking Arizona to her presence.
"Arizona… please, please don't cry. It's not what you think…" Callie began, gently consoling her girlfriend as she sat down next to her with a pained smile on her face.
"Calliope… how…how…did…you find me…here…?" Arizona choked through her tears as she sputtered out her question. Her mascara had run streaks down her face and tears were slowly streaming out of her sparkling blue eyes.
"You always come to the roof…you always come to the roof when you're sad. You're like Winnie the Pooh, this is like your thinking spot. Except…it's more like your crying spot." Callie whispered gently, smiling at the reference she had made. The idea that Arizona was her Winnie the Pooh made her feel warm inside. Yet, Arizona was still too crushed by her grief and did not reciprocate the friendliness. She felt miserable. She didn't know Callie knew about her place. This was HER place, it was where she dumped out the sadness and returned to her Peds wing with newfound joy. This was her refresh button, her spinach, her happy fuel, she didn't tell Callie about it because she didn't want her to know how dark and twisty she really was. How she was when she ran out of perkiness and needed to come and recharge. What she was really like behind the cheery mask she puts up for everyone in the hospital.
"Do you really…do you really…love…love her?" Arizona whispered as she fought to regain her breath, her tears drizzled down her face and into the folds of her permanent dimples as she asked the question that she never thought she would have to ask. Not to Callie anyways.
"No! God no! Listen, please, please don't cry… this…this isn't what you think it is... This is…here!" Callie shoved a black box towards Arizona, urging her to open it and discover its contents. Callie couldn't take it anymore, she couldn't stand to see Arizona crumble like this, she felt ashamed, ashamed that she had evoked such pain and suffering to her girlfriend. She felt her heart clench as she watched a drop of Arizona's tears splatter onto the shoebox as she shakily opened it. Arizona unwrapped the tissue paper and pulled out a pair of butterfly Heelys, they were beautiful and new but they just made Arizona even more anguished. Callie grinned proudly as Arizona slowly rotated the shoes before her, they were the same as the limited edition ones that were donated. If Callie had thought that Arizona would brighten up at the sight of these shoes, she was mistaken.
Arizona burst out in more sobs as she was overwhelmed with emotion. These shoes were the cause of their fight. These shoes were the reason behind her pain. Sure, she had wanted them a couple days back. But now, they simply reminded her of her stupidity, reminded her that she, herself, was the cause to her own suffering. She was the one that had pushed her own Calliope to Rory. Glaring at the stunned and helpless Callie who was now lost for words, Arizona spoke with icy coldness as she focused to stop her tears, "If you think…if you think that giving me these shoes now, is going to make everything okay! If you think that these shoes make up for you and Rory…" Arizona's voice cracked at the mention of the other girl's name. She stood up abruptly as the shoes fell to the floor. "I…I have to go Callie. I don't want those Heelys. Not anymore…" Arizona began to leave as Callie came out of her trance at the mention of her nickname through her girlfriend's lips. It sounded wrong. It was like a knife through her throat and it woke her up from her stunned silence. Callie reached out and grabbed Arizona's hand, holding her back from leaving.
"Arizona…Arizona. Look at me. You've got this all wrong...you've got everything all wrong. I'm NOT cheating on you. I love you and always will. You're the only one I'll ever feel that way towards. And I repeat. I. . CHEATING. ON. YOU." Callie said the words slowly, ensuring that Arizona heard every syllable. Callie gave a small chuckle as she used her thumbs to wipe away the Arizona's tears as she cupped her hands around the trembling blonde's face. Moving her hands down to Arizona's shoulders, Callie continued on to explain the story. "uhhh ok…where to begin… ok. First thing's first. You're a really mean tease. Like…a REALLY MEAN tease. You were killing me with the sex hiatus. I was practically about to suicide that time when you left to go jogging in your black shorts and green tank top. I was…dying…" Callie let out a small chuckle at the thought and a smirk spread on her lips as she thought back to the image of Arizona, "So…so…Cristina, came in and told me to get back at you. To make YOU jealous. So I talked to Rory, because I know you have a thing for her cause you always glance her way whenever we leave or enter the hospital and that one time when I was getting hot chocolate for you she told me that her roommate is an exec at this shoe company…so…soo I asked for her number so I could get you your shoes! These ones right here! See!" Callie bent down quickly to pick up the Heelys as if to show evidence in her words. She looked up at Arizona nervously, unsure of what her reaction would be.
Finally understanding a bit more to the events that had been twisting and contorting her life these past few days, Arizona calmed down and threw Callie questions that were still bothering her, "But…but why did you go out with her all those nights and, and… you were so happy all the time when you came back…and…why did you have to pick Rory, she's like the hot McSteamy that's been making her rounds with all the female doctors and nurses and…." The flood of questions was cut off with Callie's consoling look of understanding.
"Ok… first, I was just going out with her cause I needed to go to the gym to blow off some steam since we were on the stupid sex-hiatus which was driving me crazy and I just needed a buddy to go with…andddd there's the added bonus of you being driven crazy whenever I go anywhere with Rory which PS. is EXTREMELY cute because you get all pouty and stuff and I know. I know it's wrong and mean but I just had to do it and get back at you for that 'people lining up for me' comment…wait. What!? Rory?!" Callie did a confused look as she stared bewildered at Arizona's comment. Knowing that she would probably not have a response from the teetering mess that stood in front of her, she watched as Arizona bit her bottom lip, anxiously waiting on Callie's words.
"Ummm…Arizona…Rory's not…Rory isn't…on our team…" Callie gave Arizona a bemused smirk albeit a look of sincere perplexion. Sure, Callie WAS flirting with Rory, but that's just to keep her act of playing it cool up. Callie had thought that Arizona, of all people, would have already known.
"But Cristina…she said that Rory was the new McSteamy…she said that she was hitting up all the nurses…so you mean, Rory…she's not … into you?" Arizona asked as relief surged through her body. She let out a cutesy smile as the reality of her words settled in.
Calliope bit her lip. She really tried not to but she couldn't hold it in anymore. Within a split second she had broken the awkward tension with roaring laughter, tears filled her eyes as she snapped back up after her unceremonious break down of hilarity. Arizona was not pleased. Sure, she was extremely relieved. Like extremely, EXTREMELY relieved at the turn of events, but she didn't appreciate being laughed at.
Callie, sensing that an explanation was overdue and patience was quickly seeping away, straightened herself up and gave Arizona her best serious look. "No Arizona. She's just not that into me. I would really think not, considering the fact that Rory is married. Happily married to a MAN with a two year old kid named Luke. Why do you think we're going to Chucky Cheese's tomorrow? It's his birthday party!" Arizona's mouth opened but no words came out in the midst of her digestion of the truth that was revealed to her just now. It took everything in Callie to continue her speech with a straight face, "Cristina was just messing with you. She's the one who gave me the 'play it cool' advice, remember?"
Arizona's eyes narrowed as realization set in. She had been conned. Played. Duped. By Yang. AGAIN. Oh, she is sooo not scrubbing in with her anymore… nope. Na-uh. Never…she's not going to touch a scalpel ever again on her awesome peds cases…nope...
Before Arizona could consider any more possible ways to get her revenge, she felt Callie's arms wrap around her waist, pulling her close towards her lips. Arizona was still pouting from having been set up like that. This was after all, HER game. Callie let out a huge smirk as her lips pursed invitingly, centimeters away from Arizona's.
"Gotcha." Callie whispered as she kissed Arizona gently on the lips. Electricity surged through them and darkness swallowed everything but the feeling of each other. Arizona felt her mind spin as her quench for the taste of Callie's tongue, her lips, her touch was immediately filled. Callie felt light-headed, not from the run up the entire building, but from the dimply blonde that she now held within her arms and Arizona's heat passionately seared through her lips and sent a tingle through her skin.
When they finally broke away, Callie bent down to pick up the Heelys, leaving Arizona pouting at their momentary separation.
"You're so cute when you're upset. But I never want to see you upset beyond that cute pout of yours." Callie whispered as Arizona gave her a dazzling grin, accentuating her dimples in the most adorable way. Arizona took the Heelys in her hands and really looked at them for the first time.
"They're…different, there's something written on the side of these…" Arizona peered at the Heelys to decipher the cursive writing that was stitched onto the shoe… "uhh…does that say…"
"McSexy? Uh Yeah! I had to beg Rory to pull a lot of strings to get that stitched on there! That's why I was going crazy in the on-call room and thanking her again and again because I didn't know if she would be able to get those on there. I wanted it to be a surprise you know? Make it better than before, because you deserve the best!" Callie proudly exclaimed before whispering in a husky tone "You ARE McSexy after all"
"McSexy? MCSEXY?! CALLIOPEEEEE, I can't wear these in the Peds wing! These are… these are so, SO … soooo inappropriate!" Arizona tried her best to stifle her exhilaration behind a façade of anger and gave a Callie a disapproving look.
Callie, seeing right through her beautiful girlfriend's phony look of offense, shook her head in exasperation and said with mock disappointment as she threw her arms up in the air "Oh damn! I guess we're back on the sex-hiatus then!"
Arizona grabbed Callie's wrists and forcibly pinned her against the side of the vent, smiling smugly she looked upwards for a couple seconds, pretending to have an inner debate with herself before pushing her lips passionately against Callie's and muttering "council rules… no violation."
* * *
"Arizona… please, PLEASE don't make me do this" Callie whined as Arizona dragged her along the parking lot towards the hospital doors. The gorgeous rays from the morning sun was incomparable to the cheeriness that Arizona reverberated at the thought of this wonderful day.
"Calliope… play fair, you owe me for making me sad and teaming up with Yang and making me cry. Besides, you were okay with it this morning!" Arizona laughed as she shrugged her shoulders up and gave her best cutesy grin, adorning her beauty with her dimples. Callie was displeased. This was so not what she signed up for. With yet another groan she pulled Arizona to a stop and gave a huge pout,
"Uhh YEAH! Cause this morning you brought in strawberries and whip cream and… and… waffles to me in bed! I mean you never make that for me… you barely even cook cause you…wait." Callie let out a gasp as it finally hit her. She narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth in shock, "YOU TOTALLY did that on purpose! You criminal mastermind! I can't believe I fell for your phony 'oh I just wanted to do something nice for you Calliope' Ugggh. I am such a sucker." Calliope finished in defeat.
"Calliopeeee you're not a sucker…" Arizona soothed her girlfriend's pout by kissing her gently on her lips before pulling back and grinning, "I'm just good."
* * *
"Hey Callie I heard you got a huge ortho case coming up for the guy who came in with the mangled…ohh..uhhh" Cristina stopped in her tracks as she looked down at her roommate's shoes, "um… are those… are you wearing roller-skate shoes?!" Cristina was teetering with excitement and ridicule as she gasped at her discovery. "Oh my god! You SOO freakin' are! This is crazy! So what... do you like…ROLLL your way to surgeries now? Kinda like a roller-skate girl ortho version? Oh my god! Can you do a spin right here? Hahaa.."
Callie felt her temperature rise significantly and was suddenly thankful that she wasn't holding any sharp objects. "CRISTINA. Shut. UP. Do you want the whole hospital to know that I'm wearing these… these…atrociously juvenile shoes around!? And besides this is SOOO your fault for giving me stupid sage advice on Arizona and making her cry and making me have to wear these to cheer her up!" Callie fumed as Cristina continued to ripple with laughter which started up every time she looked at Callie's shoes which were white and pink with stars on the side.
"I swear to god Cristina, if you don't stop laughing at these…these shoes that are…" Callie's began to threaten, waving her hands to indicate the shoes she was desperately trying to hide.
"That are what Calliope?" Arizona questioned with pursed lips, after having literally skated into the conversation, daring Callie to continue her criticism.
"That are,.. uh…soo beautiful just like my girlfriend… yeap…" Callie lamely recovered, knowing that now was not the time to push her boundaries. They had only ended their sex-hiatus yesterday afternoon and while Callie loved sleep just as much as the next surgeon, she was thankful that Arizona had kept her up the whole night.
Arizona smiled at Callie's nervousness which she had always found adorable. Wrapping her arms around Callie's waist she leaned in for quick for soft kiss. Callie took this opportunity to mouth to Cristina 'Run. Run as fast as you can' but Cristina was still too busy cackling to notice.
"Oh Yang? I asked Teddy if I could take you on my service today, she said it would be fine so I'm looking forward to our rounds together!" Arizona smiled, as she gave Cristina a mischievous you-are-so-dead look.
This effectively stopped Cristina's laughter as she gulped, "Um.. Yes...absolutely Dr. Robbins." Before swiftly turning away and prepping her charts, enjoying her last moments of happiness before facing the torture that would surely be awaiting her during her rounds.
"Oh, don't be so mean to Cristina! You know she eats and sleep cardio!" Callie laughed as Arizona gave her an innocent smile.
"Haha! Oh…but revenge is an evil monster and we all know there's no reasoning with a monster! Now come on let's go!" Arizona chirped, pulling Callie along as she kicked out her skates. Callie nearly tripped as she stumbled to keep up. Frowning, Arizona expertly clicked her wheelies back in stopped. "Calliope? Why aren't you using your wheelie sneaks?" Arizona gave a look of death to Callie who blushed profusely at getting busted. The truth was, she really didn't think she had it in her to pull off the whole roller-skate thing. Sure, it was fine and dandy when Arizona clicked her wheels out, she's McPerky! But Callie… not so much.
"Um… well, Arizona… please, please don't be mad… but these 'wheelie sneaks' don't really suit me. I'm TORRES. I'm the badass ortho surgeon! I can't… skate around… don't get me wrong, they look SUPER SUPER cute on you but they just… don't really… have the same effect on me." Callie gave an apprehensive smile to lamely wrap up her pathetic explanation, preparing herself for what was sure to come next.
Arizona gave a little pout and angled her head a bit as she considered the argument brought forth. A smile stretched across her face suddenly and she gave a small affirmative nod. "Ok." She states simply.
"Ok?" Callie mirrors back in surprise, shocked at how quickly Arizona had let up.
"Yeah. Okay. I get it. You're badass. Too badass for these skates…Cool." Arizona smiles as she kicks out her wheels with a click and begins to skate down the hall, completely leaving the conversation unannounced.
Stunned, Callie stared at the departing image of her girlfriend skating down the hall. "Hey! Arizona! Where did you want to drag me to anyways?" she shouts towards Arizona.
Still skating skillfully, Arizona gives a mischievous grin before shouting back nonchalantly "oh nothing special, just the on-call room."
Callie practically broke her ankle trying to kick out her wheels as she zoomed after Arizona in her wheelie sneaks.
***Arizona voiceover***We wake up twenty years later, only to realize that this life we have, these days we've lived, isn't what we dreamt of on that one starry night too long ago. We wake up and realize that we didn't grow up to become what we had dreamt of on those mystifying nights that now seem so far away. We didn't take the path down the yellow brick road. We didn't become the astronaut in space. We didn't marry prince charming and ride away into the night. But the weird thing is, even after all those mistakes, all those wrong turns, all those last minute change in plans? We still manage to surface from the sea of confusion and stumble back into our dreams, stumble out of reality and back to 'far far away'. And the most miraculous, wonderful surprise at the end of it all, is that we still manage to find… our happily ever after.