Can True Love Be Estranged?

Author: And24Trina

Pairing: Calliope Torres/ Arizona Robbins

Rating: T

Summary: Callie and Arizona shared the love that most believe you can only experience once in a lifetime, stomped on too many times by life. Now they're divorced and living on opposite ends of the country. Can true love really be estranged, or are the two women destined to find their way back to each other?

Chapter: 10/10

Disclaimer: Shonda created them blah, blah, blah… So, this one will be shorter but I'm hoping just as good as The Ride… Really hope you like it.

The end is here… that actually made me a little sad to write that just now. Or, the end-ish I guess. There's an epilogue… Yay! Welp, onward and upward.

XxxxxxxX

"How did mommy catch cancer?"

"Lots of people get cancer sweetie. We don't know why it happens." Taking the little girl's hand within her own, Callie rubbed gently over the small hand. "Mommy and I don't want you to worry all right baby? The doctors are taking good care of mommy. And we're expecting that mommy will get all better, okay?" Sofia nodded. "When mommy is all better I think we should plan another trip to the zoo, what do you think?"

"Can we stay here for a while?"

"Yeah baby, we can stay as long as you like."

…

"Let me run her inside, I'll call you right back."

"Okay." The two women ended the call. Arizona pulled on her prosthetic, wanting to make her way downstairs. She'd been released from the hospital a little over two weeks ago, and this was the first morning she awoke with a bit of sprightliness.

Her stomach seemed to be making nice, the usual ache in her bones felt a little dulled, but most importantly it was a new day and she was still alive. "Look who's up." Daniel Robbins sat his coffee mug down when he heard Arizona shuffle into the kitchen.

"I'm making breakfast." Barbara turned from the pancake she'd just flipped.

"It smells amazing. I thought I'd join you two down here this morning."

"Oh good." Moving from his seat, the father pulled another mug from the cabinet passing over a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee. "You look like you're feeling better."

"I am." She nodded with an encouraging smile. "Mama, is that banana-nut?" Arizona asked giddily.

She could hear the excitement in her daughter's voice over the possibility of having her favorite. "You and your brother always had an obsession for these, didn't they Daniel?" The older woman laughed as she reminisced.

"Remember that time when she cried and wouldn't eat for the entire day because we were out of bananas?" Daniel shook his head, smiling at the memory. He could still picture it. Daniel was set to go off on another tour in a few days. The family purposely awoke a little early so they could all have breakfast together each morning before he would deploy. This morning there were blueberries in her pancakes instead of her beloved bananas. Sat across the table, the young girl pushed away the plate and crossed her arms over her chest.

The problem wasn't really the blueberries. Everyone knew it. There wasn't anything Arizona could do about her father being deployed. But she could protest breakfast. With tears, their spirited daughter took a stand. She wouldn't eat unless given the banana-nut pancakes like they had over the past week.

"There she was with those pig-tails, arms wrapped around her, just as spirited as ever wasn't she?" Barbara chuckled at the memory, platting her finished product.

Smirking, Arizona tried to not laugh at herself along with her parents. The effort didn't last long; she couldn't help it. "That led to a really bad idea to cut my own hair."

"Oh, we should find that picture. I want to put it on the Facebook." Barbara was pleased with her sudden idea, her excitement skyrocketed.

Arizona on the other hand was completely mortified. "Mom, don't you dare." Her eyes nearly bulged from her head. "I looked wounded in that picture." She recalled. That week of school pictures just wasn't her week. She was missing her two front teeth. Her father was being deployed. And the decision to give herself a protest haircut proved to be the worst idea of her young life. Instead of her parent's taking her to the salon to get the mess she had created fixed; they sent her to school to show off her handy work. "Let's not ever show those pictures to anyone. Ever." A shiver ran through her body at the thought of that godforsaken picture ever being released for public consumption.

"It's not that bad. I think it's cute." The father chuckled as he stood from the table, placing his dishes in the sink. "Whenever I was missing home I would look at that picture. It worked every time." Standing behind his daughter as she continued to delight in delicious pancakes, the man leaned forward pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"What time will Callie and Sofia get here?" The mother asked, passing the freshly washed dish over to her husband to dry.

…

"I know what I want my prize to be." Callie declared a little pensively.

Blue eyes squinted in confusion. "Prize?"

"I won Hedbanz, I get a prize…"

"Hmm… you look like you're up to something." Arizona wasn't sure what was about to fall out of that beautiful mouth. "So?"

She started out so strong, but her nerves started to give the brunette pause. Biting the inside of her cheek, Callie unwillingly built upon the tension. Arizona was smiling, and their conversation had been so light and fun up until now. Callie knew this had the potential to change everything. "Okay… I was thinking, and you know we've been talking with Sofia about everything…" Another apprehensive pause. "I want Sofia and I to come to your last chemo appointment with you." The words rushed out like captives finally being freed. "It's just that… you won Arizona. You won, and not everyone does. So we should celebrate. A little bit, the world should pause and rejoice. I want to pause and rejoice…"

"Okay."

…

Talking around the mouthful of food, blue eyes captured a quick glance at the clock. "They're leaving after school. So they should get in this evening just in time for dinner." Arizona's appointment wasn't until Monday, but the little family wanted to have the weekend together as well.

Both parents eyed each other knowingly, not missing the beaming smile on their daughter's face. She seemed to slip into her own thoughts. "It's been nice having them around so much lately." The statement from her mother grew her smile exponentially as a warmth filled her.

"Yeah it has…" The last few weekends since Arizona was home from the hospital, Callie and Arizona had come to Boston to visit. And with their frequent talks through FaceTime throughout each day when they were apart almost diminished the distance.

Sofia and her blonde mother resumed their usual morning and nightly talks. But now Callie would usually join them. During bedtime all three would settle in for story time; alternating who would read each night. Once Sofia would fall asleep though, the calls didn't end.

Each night the two mother's found themselves talking late into the night. They would laugh and talk about everything and nothing at all. Neither woman would say it. But it wasn't lost on either of them how much these conversations felt like those late night talks a couple would have when you first start dating. There was something comfortable each woman was finding in the other.

Last week the clock was nearing one a.m., Callie noticed Arizona's yawns were growing longer and becoming more frequent. It was obvious she was tired. But talking to Callie again had been so nice Arizona just didn't want to end the call. When blue eyes just couldn't hold open any longer after a few long blinks, the brunette smiled at the soft snores calling through the speakers.

Callie didn't even realize she was watching her ex-wife sleep until she noticed her finger seemingly take on a mind of its own, sliding down the screen as if it was running over the pale skin of the woman on the other side of the screen. Suddenly the ortho surgeon felt like she was intruding a little on the other woman's privacy. Still she couldn't bring herself to end the call. It had been so long since she'd heard those soft snores coming from the pillow beside her… she missed it.

Callie remembered there was this cute way the blonde would scrunch up her nose in her sleep, like she was smelling flowers in her dreams. Dark eyes danced over the screen just in time to see the fair nose scrunch up in that adorable way. The brunette couldn't help the stunning smile that spread across olive features. Stomach swirling from butterflies, her heart skipped a beat, looking at the beautiful form of her slumbering ex-wife.

At some point during the night blue eyes fluttered open, the bright light of her iPad pulling on her senses. It took a few blinks to fight through the attack of the bright screen before her sleep fueled brain could focus on what she was seeing. There was Callie fast asleep. Arizona's breath hitched at the sight. She could tell she'd been propped up on the pillow on the other side of the bed. Callie had purposely left the call connected. What did that mean? There was too much fog to really consider the question right now. Reaching out toward the screen a slender finger adjusted the brightness. Settling back into her pillow Arizona smiled at the portrait of beauty that was Calliope Torres… A thought came to mind. Moving the iPad, Arizona sat the device up on the opposite pillow before settling back into the plush duvet. It only took a few minutes for the blonde to drift off back to sleep.

The next day neither woman talked about their night spent 'together', they shared slightly awkward good mornings before Sofia took over the call sending their day to progress normally. After that night, the two women fell asleep in the same fashion each night since. They would talk and talk until drifting off to sleep, propped up on the opposite pillow; neither disconnecting the call.

The second night there was a moment of apprehension, Callie could tell there was a question lying in wait on the blonde's tongue but some invisible force was playing barrier to its release. "What's brewing in that pretty little head of yours?"

Slightly squinting, a small pout formed in slender lips. Callie had just called her pretty… again. They had been talking morning, noon, and night unabashedly. And Arizona was a little confused. She hadn't seen any sign of or heard a peep about Callie's girlfriend. "Is Penny working overnight?" She thought that was a safe entry into a necessary conversation.

The brunette's face fell at the question, but it was more a look of guilt? Arizona was unsure. But what was clear, there was no trace of sadness at the mention. "No."

Why? When? How? What? Where?... All questions channeling their inner nascar, racing through the blonde's head at irrational speeds. Not speaking, Arizona waited for Callie to elaborate; but she was met with silence and a look that begged to change the subject. There was something happening between the ex's, and even if neither would verbally address it, that didn't diminish the fact that it was happening; and they both knew it. Refusing to move on, Arizona sat in silent protest waiting for answers.

"It didn't work out." Callie offered as a peace offering. Dark eyes easily read expressive pale features. "We'll talk about it, I promise. Just… not right now, okay?" A plump bottom lip was pulled between perfect teeth, anxiety filling tanned features.

"Okay." And that was all to it. Their conversation moved on quickly, the joyful ease and comfort slipping right back in place.

"Would you two want to join me for a walk? We could get some fresh air." Arizona looked up to her parents with hope. This morning when getting dressed she'd noticed how beautiful it was outside. It was still cold out, but the sun was beaming. Looking out the window, it dawned on her; she couldn't remember the last time she'd actually stood in the sun.

The Robbins family enjoyed a slow stroll through the neighborhood simply enjoying just, being. It reminded the trio of the hiking trips they would take when she and Tim were younger. After a while they headed back home. Arizona wanted to lie down for a bit before Callie and Sofia would arrive.

…

"So… we did a thing." Dark eyes met similar one's in her mini me, both looking very mischievous.

"Okay…" Arizona wasn't sure what the two were up to. She wasn't sure if she should be happy or afraid.

"Please be okay with this." Both brunette's pulled off their hat at the same time.

"Ah!" Arizona surprised everyone with her shriek. Blue eyes bulging, feet moved without command propelling her forward. Fingers attached first to the shortened dark locks of her little girl before she whipped around almost unsteadily to regard the bashful taller woman.

"Are you mad? Do you hate it?" The question erupted from Callie who looked like she wasn't sure if she was in trouble or not.

Sofia stood between her two mothers beaming, like this was the happiest moment of her life. "We got haircuts mommy!" The little girl offered with pure jubilance.

Arizona may have fallen into a state of shock for a moment. Blue eyes rapidly moved from head to head. They had in fact gotten haircuts. One a little more drastic than the other. Closing her eyes for a moment, one eye peeked open just to make sure what she was seeing wasn't some hallucination or a figment of her imagination.

"I'm not mad." Arizona quickly offered when the smile on her little girl's face started to falter. "I am a little shocked though… or a lot shocked?" She rubbed over little dimples, kissing her baby girl's forehead. "You guy's got haircuts!" Arizona cheered, suddenly full of emotion.

"We donated our hair!" The small brunette was overjoyed to share. "Mama said it will help other people that have cancer too." Arizona had an idea of what influenced their cuts, but hearing her daughter so happy in her decision completely melted her heart.

That night Sofia and Callie sat down to dinner with the Robbins' enjoying the best pizza their local pizzeria had to offer. Stories of the blonde's childhood resurfaced pulling out fully belly laughs from the kitchen's population. The night was a celebration, and everyone fully gave themselves to the upbeat atmosphere. Tomorrow would be Arizona's last chemo treatment, followed by four rounds of radiation.

Yesterday the blonde had an appointment with her oncologist that gave her news that left her soaring. Upon her latest check her scans were clear. The radiation was recommended as an increased effort to reduce the risk of recurrence. But right now Dr. Trata was confident in calling it; Arizona was in remission.

"Can we have movie night in your room mommy?" Sofia finished brushing her teeth, meeting the reflection of blue eyes in the mirror. "We brought 'Finding Dory' with us."

"Yes, please!" After rinsing the paste from her mouth, Arizona answered excitedly. It always caused an eruption of fireworks in her at how much her little girl was just like herself. "Go help mama set it up, I'll be right out." She may have shared with Sofia that she had cancer, but she wasn't comfortable with taking her meds in front of her baby.

Standing on the tip of her toes the cherubic little girl pressed lips to her mommy's cheek, causing a tingle where lips were just pressed. "I love you mommy." Before her mom could respond Sofia enthusiastically bounced out of the bathroom in search of her mama.

By the time Arizona emerged from the bathroom Callie was still fussing over the Blu-ray player. Barely able to contain her excitement, Sofia sat at the top of the bed waiting for her mom's to join the party. Climbing into bed beside her baby girl, Arizona was on top of the world. Finally, the title appeared showering the room in the blue light emitting from the screen. "Okay." Callie turned on her heel, regarding the two in the bed. "Let's get this party started, shall we?" Looking around the room, a bit of hesitation was obvious in tanned features.

Blue eyes met wander brown's clearly reading the question being pondered behind them. "Come on mama, get in. It's starting." Sofia beckoned her dark haired mother over to the empty space in the bed. Still meeting the gaze of her ex-wife Callie silently waited for permission.

"Come on mama, you heard her. The movie is starting." Reaching over Sofia, Arizona pulled the duvet back as an invitation. In true Sofia fashion, the little bit barely made it half way through the movie before the events of the day completely zapped all of her energy. Callie and Arizona weren't far behind.

Sleepy blue eyes danced over the shaved sides of Callie's new hair-cut. There was still a little length at the top styled into a swoop. The change flawlessly accentuated the brunette's chiseled bone structure. But it also perfectly highlights deep emotional brown eyes. Somehow this cut epitomized the bad ass affectation of the ortho surgeon. "Why did you cut your hair?"

The question was asked so softly, Callie almost missed it. Turning on her side she lay on her side mirroring her ex-wife. Considering the question, the brunette ran her fingers through Sofia's shortened locks. It was a continued conversation that started between their daughter and her therapist that continued at home that prompted the discussion about hair. Sofia wanted to cut her hair like her mommy. By the end of the talk the mother and daughter were able to compromise. But something sparked inside the ortho surgeon. "You." The answer was simple. Well there was more to it but, when it all boiled down? Callie cut her hair in support of her ex-wife. "I should get her settled into bed."

Arizona tried to swallow the lump of emotion that formed in her throat. Closing her eyes didn't stop the liberation of tears streaming down fair cheeks. Reaching over the slumbering form of their daughter, a curled finger followed by the pad of the brunette's thumb wiped at the stray moisture. Grasping the hand before it could be pulled away, Arizona held the strong hand against her own cheek melting into the feel. "Stay."

They didn't need to offer any more words between each other in the moment. Cupping the fair cheek, the two hands stayed clasped together; the olive complexion played as the perfect opposite to the creamy one of the blonde. Blue eyes affectionately melting into dark chocolate orbs, both women allowing the gaze to speak what the mouths wouldn't.

They remained this way until Arizona finally drifted off to sleep, after prompting from the brunette. She had a big day tomorrow with her last round of chemo. She would need her rest. Callie was tired, but her mind refused to rest.

"Dear God, I need your guidance. I kissed a peds surgeon."

"-You kissed a peds surgeon?" Addison interrupted her friend, surprise causing her words to run away.

Ignoring the question, Callie continued her prayer. "I never thought I'd end up with a woman, God, but- -I mean, not until lately- -but that- -that's not the problem." She digressed. "The problem is the peds thing. She's- -she's perky… and has butterflies on her scrub cap." Callie took a deep breath before continuing. Missing the amused look of her friend that was still seated just behind her. "But she's… also hot… really hot." Emphasis on the 'really'. "So… help me get over the butterflies. Amen." Before pushing from her knees, she followed through with the ritual of sealing her prayer by drawing an invisible cross from head to chest, and shoulder to shoulder. Turning back to her friend, Callie knew just the solitude Addison needed in the moment. "You're an amazing doctor. You save babies. God knows who you are.

Green eyes danced upward. "Do you really believe in all this… in God?" As a self-proclaimed wasp that only attended church on Christmas, Addison wasn't sure if she was too sure about this praying thing.

"Sometimes." Callie considered her own position on the being lately. "Well… most of the time, when it counts."

Smiling at the memory, Callie's mind drifted again.

"I had a patient once who told me about his wedding day, and how they asked all the married couples to come to the dance floor to dance together." Mark's voice filled her mind. "And then they asked the couples who'd been only married a year to sit down. And then five years, then ten years, twenty, and so on, until they got to the last two couples." Callie recalled the first time she and Arizona had sat to watch the video montage from their wedding. Mark's words had left them in aww. "Uh, two sets of grandparents. Been together sixty years. Sixty years with the love of their life." He looked confidently into the lens. "That's gonna be your two at our granddaughter's wedding. Callie… Arizona… Congratulations. I love you."

Tears pooled in dark eyes. Tears for the loss of life. And Tears for the loss of time. Wiping at the buildup of moisture, Callie quickly but carefully removed herself from the duvet. Rounding to the other side of the bed, she gently tapped Arizona. "Arizona…" She gently shook, hoping to moderately wake the sleeping woman. "Arizona…" Callie beckoned again, causing sleep filled blue eyes to flutter open.

"Callie?" Arizona was startled by the brunette's appearance beside her bed.

"I'm a doctor. And I heal people. That's what I was trained to do. For so long, you know? We spent so long learning to be healers. But you didn't need me to heal you." The words were rushing away from her so quickly, Callie wasn't sure if Arizona was following. "After the plane crash, and your leg. Then after the miscarriage. You didn't need me to heal you. You needed me to grieve with you."

Tears instantly pricked at the back of cloudy orbs, Arizona sat up with alarm, regarding her ex-wife with uncertainty. Why had Callie woken her so abruptly in the middle of the night, tears streaking down her cherry infused cheeks? "Oh Callie…" The cancer stricken woman threw her head back, willing the attack of tears to concede. Her mind raced, concerned over where this was coming from. So much time had passed.

"Arizona, I'm so sorry." The raw emotion clawed at the heavy atmosphere that suddenly engulfed the two women. Tears poured down blotchy skin, refusing to let up despite the attempt to end the onslaught. Words were barely decipherable through the uncontrollable sobs.

Without thought, Arizona pulled the bawling woman into her arms hugging her tightly. She could never stand to see the brunette cry, it felt like the most piercing pain was penetrating her heart. The two women latched onto each other like a lifeline. Callie kept repeating her apologies, Arizona responding with confessions of forgiveness. Leaning into her ex-wife's front, the brunette held Arizona's shirt in a vice grip with her face nestled into the crook of the blonde's neck.

Even after Callie's sobs subsided neither woman knew how much time passed; they were still latched onto each other. Leaning back into the mountain of pillows behind her, Callie lay against her front. Slender pale fingers ran through the shortened swoop of dark locks. Pausing her movements, Arizona contemplated her pending question. "Calliope?" For a second she wasn't sure if Callie had fallen asleep.

Lifting her head slightly, emotion streaked eyes looked up to the fair woman. "Hmm?"

"What brought this all on tonight?" She asked tentatively, not wanting Callie to go running for the hills.

Unable to break away from the gaze, the taller woman sat up from their resting form. Looking into those pools of blue, Callie knew she couldn't hold it in any longer. Or rather she didn't want to hold it in any longer. "I want my wife back Arizona." The words drew a shocked gasp from her ex-wife.

…

"You better not be crying."

"I'm not." The new fetal surgeon tilted her head skywards just slightly, eyes stuck on the ceiling in attempt to keep the swell of moisture from overwhelming the border of lightly decorated lids. If her eyesight hadn't been stolen though, she would've seen her pupil's trembling bottom lip as the blonde attempted to sell the lie. Her ears though, her ears did not deceive. The soft exhale from the woman standing beside her hospital bed was a tattle tell. There were tears. "Are you all right?" After a moment the blonde made a valiant attempt to keep the quiver out of her voice as she asked.

With a shake of the head the elder woman scoffed with a soft sigh and a shake of her head. Was she all right? She hadn't had time to ponder that within herself yet. "I don't know." Dr. Herman answered as honestly as she could in the moment. "It'll take a while to sink in. I don't think you're going to want to be around me when it does. That will be ugly."

"I will be." Arizona declared. And she would. Over the past few months this woman had both physically and emotionally beat the hell out of her. Changed the trajectory of her life forever. And somehow the two women built an impenetrable bond. "If you want me to, I'll-"

"You're missing the point." Dr. Herman cut of her mentee's declaration. "You're so thick, Robbins. You're always just to the left of the point. The point is I'm going to get to figure it out. Something is going to happen next." She paused for a moment to allow it to really sink in… a small smile pulled at her features as that though sunk in to herself as well. "The point is I'm alive." That thought, in that moment, was possibly the most rewarding moment of her life. "And I wouldn't be if you hadn't been such a pain in my ass." Lifting her hand, Dr. Herman extended it, Arizona meeting the embrace in acceptance of the heartfelt gratitude. Dr. Herman had just given her the credit of saving her life. "I picked the right horse." The whispered words barely made it around the lump of emotion in her throat.

…

Some lessons that you come across are for the moment. Others for the future. The lesson that Dr. Herman taught that day? That one had propelled the blonde to stand in the mirror right now, tears streaming as she took in her own beaming smile. Through all of the ups and downs. The heartbreak. A plane crash. Losing her leg. Her miscarriage. The failure of her marriage. Being diagnosed with cancer. Being offered a diagnosis of certain death. The point? She's alive.

Her long flowing blonde locks may have been sacrificed in the battle. Once thick brows now thinned to a near nonexistence. Her once peppy full figure was a much smaller version of itself. She had every reason to just give in. At times it seemed like the universe got some kind of thrill out of throwing the shittiest parties her way. Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway. Blue eyes held the post-it with the Emory Austin quote scribbled in Callie's fancy scrawl. She could've curled up and gave up, but she didn't.

She lived.

Walking out of the hospital doors after completing her final round of chemo, excited whooping sounded from her family. Dressed in uniquely decorated shirts declaring their support for the fight against cancer stood, Daniel, Barbara, Callie, Sofia, and a few of the women from her support group. Bells rang exuberantly, kazoos roared an unwritten tune, confetti was thrown up before drizzling around her. Front and center was Sofia holding an oversized sign with the help of her dark haired mother that read: My Mommy Kicked Cancer's ASS!

She lived.

Stepping up to the group, Arizona was overwhelmed by the love that surrounded her. She was in awe, loving the creative signs being held up by the group. Standing there on the sidewalk under the beaming sun, blue eyes closed as Arizona completely gave herself into the moment. Face up to the sky, a hand came up to grasp the heart shaped pendant dangling from her neck. Short arms wrap around her legs followed by longer, stronger arms wrapping around her waist. Her two girls wrapped themselves around her pouring everything into her that she needed in this moment. Plump lips pressed into her own, Callie was unable to hold back any longer.

She lived.

The loss of her brother. The loss of her best friend. A hospital shooting. A near tragic car accident. Finding love. Discovering love. Investing in love. A plane crash. A miscarriage. Loss of self. Loss of passion. Loss of vision. Loss of limb. Loss of love. Cancer. In the midst of an ugly custody battle; the diagnosis of breast cancer. Sentenced to death. But… Against all the odds.

She lived.

XxxxxxxX

So? What did you think? I hope you liked it… let me know? I appreciate all comments and shares. I really do love to hear your thoughts.

This one took a little longer than I expected, I'm sorry. I just wasn't satisfied. So, good news… There's an epilogue! That's good news, right?

xoxo