Part Ten
Amelia
Arizona and I have just finished off two platefuls of syrup-covered pancakes and are in casual, comfortable conversation. We're lazing around on the couch when I feel her nudge me with her foot.
"Yes?" I smirk at her as she coyly tries to get my attention.
"Um... I've been meaning to talk to you about... Well... " she starts, awkwardly, sitting up and turning her body towards me. I give her an uncertain glance, signalling I'm not too sure what she's talking about. "You know... after the baby had gone home... and you came to see me..." Oh, the kiss... she's definitely talking about the kiss. "Uh... I... I'm sorry," she says, with a sheepish smile. I sit up and mirror her position. "My hormones were crazy... and you were being so nice... and I... I just... I don't know, I..." Oh, the rambling. The rambling is so cute.
"It's fine... I know I'm very attractive," I joke, putting a playful spin on the conversation.
"Shut up!" She says with a laugh and a hint of embarrassment.
"Completely irresistible in my scrubs," I continue, sarcastically. "Tell me, what was more enticing? My hair after it'd been under a scrub cap for two hours or the smell of TCP?"
"You're so annoying," Arizona laughs again, throwing herself back into the couch and covering her face with one of the cushions. I take one of her hands and make her lower it, ensuring she's looking at me. I think it's time I put her out of her misery.
"You don't have to feel uncomfortable about it," I say with a gentle smile. "I know how bad your hormones were that day. Don't worry," I reassure her, calmly.
"Thank you," she whispers, looking at me gratefully.
"You want to kiss me again, don't you?" I tease, not being able to resist getting one last jab in. She throws the cushion she was holding in my direction, narrowly missing my head. "Okay, I'm kidding, I'm kidding... Jeez!" She rolls her eyes at me in response.
"You're a pest, Shepherd," she says with a dimpled smile. Ugh, she's so cute.
"Hey, are you and Teddy busy June 15th?" I ask, rapidly changing the subject.
"I don't think so," she replies. "Why? That's like over a month away..."
"Well... it's my birthday," I say, awkwardly. "And, I'm having a little rooftop get together barbecue type thing..."
"A party?" Arizona summarises for me with a smirk.
"Sort of," I say, nonchalantly. "And, I wondered if you guys wanted to come."
"Sure, sounds good," she responds, sweetly. Suddenly, her eyes widen in realisation. "Oh, my God... You're going to be 30!"
"Okay, let's not try and make a big deal out of this..." I say, scooping up our empty dishes and making my way into the kitchen side of the apartment, putting them in the sink full of soapy water. She follows me... probably to tease me about it!
"Wow, that's super old," she mischievously antagonises me as she grabs a dish towel ready to dry whatever I'm washing. "I was going to get you something cool and hip for your birthday, but maybe a walking frame is more appropriate..."
"That's enough out of you, Robbins!" I say, flicking bubbles her way. She winds up the dish cloth and whips me on the ass with it as though we're in a locker room. A gasp escapes my throat at the contact. "Oh, it is on!" I say, challengingly. She shimmies back into the living room area, using the counters as a divide between us. "Get over here," I say, mock-threateningly with handfuls of soapy water. I dart to the other side of the counters, and grab her waist with one hand. She squeals with laughter, as my other hand hovers over her face, stopped only by Arizona's hands on my wrist.
"Hey, I gave birth two weeks ago! You have to be gentle with me," she bargains.
"Excuses, excuses," I reply, finally getting the suds on her face. We are both in fits of laughter when Teddy comes through the door.
"Hey, guys," she says with a wide smile.
"I'm being bullied," Arizona tells Teddy, giving me a quick jab in the stomach.
"She's being a pansy," I correct her, nudging her with my elbow. Teddy grins at us both.
"What you guys doing today?" She asks, setting down the groceries she's just been out to get.
"I was just popping by," I explain. "I've got work in... Oh! A half hour!" I say, before I begin rushing around to gather my things and leave. I kiss Arizona on the cheek before I go. "See you later," I say, quickly. "Bye, Teddy," I wave before I exit the apartment.
Teddy
Arizona still has this big goofy smile on her face when she throws herself back onto our couch and begins to watch whatever's been on the TV. I smirk as I go to sit next to her. I hand her a soda and open my own as I put my feet up on the coffee table.
"So... when are you going to ask her out?" I ask, playfully.
"What?" She retorts, scrunching her eyebrows together as though I've asked her what the capital of Switzerland is.
"Oh, come on... You two are so into each other!" I say, directly.
"Teddy, I'm really not thinking about dating right now," she says with an eye roll.
"You practically are dating, you know?" I point out. "Can you remember the last time you didn't see each other at some point in the day?"
"It's not like that," she insists. "We're friends."
"If you say so..."
I leave the conversation there. I know not to push it. On some level, I agree with her. She's not ready to date. She's been through so much in the past nine months. Even by Arizona standards. But, they're so good for each other, it just seems like such a waste...
"She invited us to her birthday party," she says, interrupting my thoughts. "You wanna go?"
"Sure, when is it?" I ask.
"June 15th," she confirms.
"Um... yeah, sounds good..."
Little does my best friend know that I'm expecting a call from the army any day now, confirming my departure date.
...
Arizona
A few hours later, I hear a fast knock on our door. We rarely get visitors without warning unless it's Amelia, but she's in work.
"I'll get it," I call to Teddy, who's only just sat down to relax. I open the door to reveal an unexpected face.
"Hey, Flagstaff!" Nick says with a wide smile.
"Nick!" I exclaim, launching myself into his embrace. "What are you doing here?" I ask, bringing him inside the apartment.
"I, uh- I can't work for the army any more," he admits. "I haven't been right since... well, you know, since I watched Tim..." he trails off and grits his teeth, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "I've been honourably discharged," he explains. "Get over here, Altman," he says, with an impish smile, prompting Teddy to move from the couch. She rushes over to him and envelopes him in a tight hug.
"How are you feeling about that?" I ask as they break the embrace.
"Yeah... Good, actually," he says in an upbeat manner. "I didn't think I would, but..." he shrugs his shoulders, nonchalantly. "I'm working in the city... And, you guys were obviously going to be my first port of call," he says, nudging me. "So, what have I missed?"
Oh, God... I haven't told him.
...
Teddy
"Tell me his name," Nick says in a low, gruff voice.
"Nick..." Arizona tries to stop his anger building, tears still in her eyes from explaining the terrible things that have happened to her.
"Tell me his fucking name!" He says, loudly, making both Arizona and I flinch. "I will rip him limb from limb."
"He's in prison," she says, tiredly. "He's going to be in prison for a long, long time."
"And, the baby... I could have helped you..." he says, exasperated. "You didn't have to give him up..."
"Nick!" I shout, shocked by his sharp and insensitive reply.
"What?" He throws his hands up, confused by my response.
"He wasn't mine, Nick!" Arizona cries. "He never felt like mine," she confesses. "I don't know if that makes me selfless or if it makes me entirely fucked up," she says, honestly. "But, he didn't belong with me either way. And, I didn't want to keep him from his real family."
At this revelation, Nick's face drops. He wraps our old friend up in his arms holding her head securely with one hand.
"Okay, okay..." he soothes. "I'm sorry," he says, earnestly. He sighs out, sadly. "Did he... Are his family good people?" He asks, shakily.
"The best," she whispers.
"Guys, let's get out of this apartment," I say in an attempt to break the tension. "We'll go grab some drinks and just relax." Arizona looks from me to Nick and back again.
"I think that's a good idea," she nods her head in approval. "Just... let me fix myself up," she says, walking towards her bedroom.
"We should totally go to Joe's," Nick says, with a reminiscent smile. We used to go there altogether when we all lived in the city; me, Arizona, Nick and Tim.
"Yeah, we should," my friend smiles back before disappearing. Nick watches her move into the bedroom and turns to me when he's sure she's out of earshot.
"How's she been?" He asks, quietly. His expression is one of devastation and heartbreak.
"Incredibly brave," I sigh out, giving him a half-hearted smile.
"I wouldn't expect anything less," he responds, solemnly.
...
Amelia
"Let's go to Joe's," Meredith says as we walk towards the hospital exit together. "We need to toast that incredible surgery," she insists, referring to a really tricky tumour I removed after six hours in theatre.
"Urgh, no," I reply, drowsily. "I am more than ready for my bed."
"Oh, come on!" She badgers me. "One little lime and soda," she encourages.
"Fine," I roll my eyes at her as she links her arm through mine and grins like the Cheshire cat.
...
Teddy
"To Timothy Robbins," Nick says raising his beer at the bar. "And, how proud he'd be of his incredibly brave little sister."
"Oh, blah blah," Arizona says, in high spirits. "He was the brave one," she says with a genuine smile. "To Tim," she says, before we clink our bottles together.
"So, where are you working?" I ask Nick after our first gulps of beer.
"I got some work on the construction job in Pioneer Square," he explains.
"That's great, Nick," Arizona says like a proud little sister.
Then, we fall into casual conversation. We talk and laugh and reminisce about the old times. Nick supplies us with three rounds of drinks. Arizona's a little tipsy already. It's not surprising; she hasn't touched any alcohol for nine months. It's good to see her finally let loose. With Nick and I here with her, in this familiar environment, her old self is finally starting to shine through. The fun-loving, easy-going, sweet Arizona who doesn't have a care in the world.
"Oh my God, I love this song!" She says half-way through our third round, dragging us both onto the dancefloor that's already full of people.
Meredith
When I enter Joe's, I see it's already filled with its regulars, including several people from the hospital. It's a little crowded tonight for my liking, but as long as there's space at the bar to sit and talk, I know I'll enjoy myself.
As we take two bar stools, I order our drinks, making sure Amelia's is non-alcoholic. As Joe makes them, I glance over at the dancefloor and nudge my sister-in-law.
"Look who's here," I say, nodding towards the woman she's so obviously crushing on. Arizona and another woman are being twirled around by a tall man with dark hair who I don't recognise. They're dancing and talking and laughing. She looks a lot happier than the last time I saw her.
Amelia
Arizona looks incredible... glowing, in fact. Her long blonde hair is in loose curls, hanging just past her shoulders. Her bronzed cheeks and smoky eyeshadow accentuate her flawless facial features. The small bump leftover from her pregnancy is almost unnoticeable in the black leggings and baggy royal blue top she's wearing. Seeing her have such a good time with her friends gives me a feeling of happiness and hope. Hope that she can move on from this terrible year, and begin to live her life normally. When I catch her eye, I grin widely at her and she immediately makes her way over to us. The closer she gets, the prettier she looks.
"What are you doing here?" She asks with a smile and a hug.
"Apparently, we're celebrating," I answer with a hint of sarcasm as my lime and soda is placed in front of me.
"Amelia absolutely smashed this tricky surgery today," Meredith explains, taking the first sip of her colourful cocktail.
"You know you guys are doctors, right? Shouldn't you be celebrating somewhere a little... fancier?" She asks with a raised eyebrow before realising Joe is right behind us cleaning glasses. "No offence, Joe! Big fan of your work," she shouts over the bar. He simply rolls his eyes at the tipsy woman and throws her a familiar smile.
"We've been drinking here since we were interns, Robbins," I retort with a smirk. "This spot is like home to us."
"Yep," Meredith chips in. "A lot of memories have been made here," she says with a fond smile. This is where she met my brother.
"Round four, Phoenix?" The man she was dancing with before suddenly appears by her side. She grabs him by the arm and introduces us.
"This is Nick," she says, excitedly. "I've told you about Nick!"
"You have," I smirk at her slightly slurred sentences. "Nice to finally meet you," I say shaking his hand.
"Nick, this is Amelia," she explains. "And, this is Meredith."
"A pleasure ladies," he says, charmingly. "Can I get you both a drink?"
...
Teddy
The five of us have managed to occupy one of the booths opposite the bar. Meredith's been bigging up Amelia's surgery and Nick's been telling us about how he secured his new job. There's been a lot of drinking and laughing and telling each other stories of how we're all connected.
There's been a lot of subtle touching, flirtatious laughter and stolen glances between my best friend and the woman next to her. It's so sweet to see.
"She likes her, huh?" Nick says quietly, referring to the sweet interaction between his oldest friend and the neurosurgeon. They're so involved in each other, that they don't even hear the conversation we're having.
"Oh, yeah!" I reply with a smirk.
"Amelia doesn't stop talking about her," Meredith adds.
All three of us share a knowing look before clinking our beer bottles together in a silent toast to our friends.