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Chapter 7: Tears & Rain


Meredith and Erica walked solemnly into their mothers room and crashed down into the uncomfortable hospital chairs. Meredith had been working at the hospital for many years now, and she never really had taken the time to actually sit in one of them, and now that she was, she felt bad for any family member. Not only was their loved one sick, but they also had to sick on uncomfortable chairs. Meredith shook her head, the chief was going to have to do some remodeling.

Erica and Meredith were both feeling a little down at the fact that their sister was so unhappy. Meredith felt that if she had pressure Arizona more into telling Callie, she would have and none of this chaos would occur. On the other hand, she also knew that the decision was Arizona's completely, and nothing she said would've changed her opinion. Erica was feeling the worst, however. She felt that the entire thing was her fault, because if she had not have ratted Arizona out back in high school, they might've still been the close sisters (Well, to be perfectly honest, they weren't close, but they were civil) they were when they were younger, and Arizona would've probably had a stable successful relationship with Callie.

"Was I seeing things, or did I see someone who vaguely resembled Arizona?" Ellis asked breaking their silence.

"You were probably seeing things..." Erica lied to her mother as she saw Meredith glance over in her direction.

"That's a first. How are things with your life, Erica?" Ellis questioned her daughter as she sat up straighter in her bed.

Erica shrugged, "It's been alright. I've been nominated for the Harper Avery a couple times."

"And you haven't won?"

Erica shook her head, "Not yet, but hopefully, one day I will."

"Well..." Ellis shrugged, "At least you're using my maiden name. It's Meredith here that has to live up to my expectations." Ellis gave Meredith a tight smile, in which Meredith fakely returned.

"Meredith, you've been avoiding me." Ellis simply stated.

"I- um- I-" Meredith paused looking up at her mother, lost at words.

"What did I tell you all about stuttering when you were younger?" Ellis asked sharply.

"It makes you appear weak." Erica mumbled.

"And what did I say about mumbling under your breath?" Ellie scolded.

"Look, Mom, I haven't been avoiding you, I just don't know what to say to you." Meredith jumped in before Erica could respond.

"No need to explain." Ellis held up her hand at Meredith, and continued, "I understand that as a child, growing up with myself as a mother was probably difficult."

"You were a fantastic mother," Erica piped in trying to comfort her mother who looked a little distressed at the fact her youngest daughter had been avoiding her.

"Maybe for you and Arizona, but you also grew up with Thatcher as a father helping out. Meredith grew up with just me, and I am willing to admit, I wasn't "Mother of the Year" material. I'm sorry, Meredith." Ellis apologized.

Meredith shook her head softly at her mother and then turned to Erica, "I can't do this. I can't sit here in the same room with this woman. We've never been good enough for her, and we never will be. She wants extraordinary daughters and in her eyes, we're ordinary. We'll have her voice nagging us at the back of our heads telling us we're not good enough until the day she dies, and I am afraid, even then it won't go away. I can't sit here with her now that I know what Zona went through because of her, and I don't know how you can." Meredith quickly sat from her chair and walked out of the room, slamming the door on the way out. Erica quickly jumped up from her seat and took off after her sister.

"Meredith," Erica called after her as she took off down the hallways, trying to catch up to her youngest sister. "Meredith," Erica pulled her arm and turned her around to face her. "Look at me."

"If it wasn't for me, she would've never known about Zona, and Zona would've been able to stay, and who knows how things would've been now. Blame me, Meredith. If it was not for me, you would've had an amazing childhood. Before Zona left she took such great care of you, and afterward... I'm sorry. Just blame me." Erica pleaded.

"I do blame you, Erica!" Meredith shouted, "But your my sister, and you were still young, and you were confused! She was our mother, for god-sake. She's supposed to love us, no matter what. That type of love is supposed to be unconditional. Why are you defending her? Seriously, after all you have been through, all we have been through; I thought that this whole sucking up to Mom would've ended, but your still the same Erica you were back then." Meredith threw back at her as she furiously pulled her arm from Erica's grasp and continued on down the hallway.

"Meredith," Erica called after hopelessly as her shoulders dropped in defeat.


Mark walked into the doctors lounge with a happy strut. Today couldn't have been any better for him, first and foremost, Lexie Grey had decided to move in with him on the condition that one day they would get married and have a family. Now, years ago, the thought of being a father would've scared the pants off of him, but now, he was thrilled. Then, a kid who had his face smashed when he was in a car accident came into the hospital asking him to do the surgery for him, pro-bono. Now, that he is dating Lexie, and treating her nicely, the nurses at taken a great liking to him, so they were all thrilled to help. Nothing would bring him down today. That is, until he saw his best friend crying softly on the couch as she looked out the window at the falling rain.

"Callie?" Mark asked softly as he slowly made his way the couch. Sure he had seen a couple of Callie break down's but he had to admit, this looked like the breaking point.

"Mark." She turned to face Mark and her face crumbled completely as she broke down into sobs.

Mark quickly went to her side and sat down next to her on the couch, taking her into his arms and whispering comforting words into her ear, just like a best friend should. 20 minutes later, and five 911's on his pager, which didn't really matter to him at the moment, he decided to see if she had calmed down enough for him to get some answers for this horrific break down.

"Callie, you have to tell me what's wrong." Mark whispered softly as he lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes, but she just shook her head out of his hand and returned her gaze to her hands. "Come on, Callie, you can trust me."

With those seven words, Callie collapsed into his arms once again, soaking his shirt with her moist tears. "I- I- can't trust anyone." Callie hiccuped into his chest.

"You can trust me, Callie, you know that. I'm always here for you." Mark told her honestly.

Callie pulled back and wiped her tears furiously, "I kn- know you are, b-but, Arizona.." Callie couldn't continue anymore because she fell against Mark and all he felt was her body shaking due to her violent sobs. That's when it dawned on him what was going on. That Arizona girl had broken his best friends heart. Sure, Mark looked like a guy who wouldn't get involved, but when someone messes with Callie, it was going down. He didn't care if Arizona was woman. It didn't matter to him one bit. He was furious.

"What did she do to you, Callie?" Mark asked softly.

"Erica- Erica's back." Callie managed to mumbled coherently.

"What's she doing back?" Mark asked in confusion as he leaned closer to Callie's head so that he could hear her speak.

"Ellis Grey is lucid, and Meredith called her, because she's her sister, and all..." Callie hiccuped, "...Arizona and Meredith are sisters too." Callie told him incoherently.

Mark froze, trying to figure out if Callie said what he thought she said. "Sisters?" Was all that he could manage to ask, while Callie simply nodded, letting her face crumble as new tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Does that mean that Erica and Arizona..." Mark didn't even have to finish his sentence, because the sounds of Callie's sobs growing harder gave him the confirmation he needed. "And you're upset because she never told you." Mark stated softly.

Callie nodded softly as she sat up again on the couch and looked Mark straight in the eye, "Am I overreacting about this?" Callie asked softly. Mark could see the hurt in her eyes and all we wanted to do was hug her and hire one of his trashy one night stands to come beat Arizona up, because he'd never hit a girl, as much as he wanted to at the moment.

"You are not overreacting. You're hurt." Mark whispered softly as he pulled her into him and laid her head on his shoulder.

"It hurts so bad. I really thought I was falling for her, and she just hid something so big from me." Callie whispered as silent tears trickled down her face.

"I know. I know." Mark whispered as his pager went off for the 6th time.

"Mark, you should really take that. You're going to get fired." Callie mumbled softly, but Mark shook his head and stood his ground.

"There is no other place I need to be but here. Dr. Rogers will be fine without me." Mark told Callie honestly. Callie smiled weakly up at him and sighed as she settled in his arms.

"Thanks, Mark. I couldn't ask for a better best friend." Callie whispered as she closed her eyes.


"Hey," Erica said softly as she entered the small corridor filled with cots that the interns slept on. Arizona was sitting silently at one all the way at the back looking out the window at the rain trickling down the glass, just as Callie had been doing. Arizona looked up at the sound of the familiar voice and ignored it and returned her gaze back to the rain.

"It never stops raining, huh?" Erica commented as she noticed Arizona run a finger under her eye, as if she was trying to catch a tear. "You alright?" Erica slapped herself inwardly. What kind of question was that to ask in a situation like this.

Arizona's head spun around in her direction and Erica received a cold glare, "What do you want with me?" Arizona asked.

"I honestly didn't know you were down here. If I did, I would've let you have your space." Erica replied softly.

"What are you doing down here, then?" Arizona asked sharply with venom dripping from her voice.

"Same reason you are: to think." Erica replied honestly as she slowly sat on a cot that stood three away from Arizona's.

"Well, I'm done, so I will give you your space..." Arizona trailed off as she hopped off her cot and began to walked past Erica, but Erica grabbed her wrist tightly.

"Please, talk to me." Erica begged.

Arizona sighed and turned to face Erica, "About what?" She asked impatiently. "What could we possible have to talk about?"

Erica bit her lip trying to think of what to say. Honestly, she didn't think Arizona would give her the time of day, so she didn't have anything prepared. She had a billion things running through her head, but not one of them was able to make it out of her mouth, so Arizona stood there for a few moments in silence waiting for a response. Finally, when Erica could not come up with one, she rolled her eyes, turned around, and continued her way out.

When Erica saw that Arizona had reached the door and was about the walk through she yelled, "I want to talk about how sorry I am."

Arizona paused at the door, and without turning she replied, "You already said sorry. I can't see what else we have to discuss."

"There is a lot we need to talk about, Zona." Erica told her softly, her voice cracking at the end.

"When you come up with something to talk about, I'll be waiting. Until then, leave me the hell alone." Arizona told her coldly before pushing the door open and walking out.



TBC

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