Chapter 10
When I opened my eyes again I recognised the lobby of Grey Sloan Memorial straight away. There are a lot of people here in formal wear, a DJ in the corner and a stage set up at the bottom of the stairs. I quickly assumed it was a benefit of some kind.
"This place hasn't changed much." Mark said as he released my hand and walks into the crowd. "Although it looks like they're building a new wing. Love the new name too, it's great to see my name up there with Lexie's."
I turned to look at the poster near the entrance and it's a new map of the hospital, including a brand new wing. Looking lower down on the poster I noticed a description of the new wing and I'm pleasantly surprised to see that the new wing will house the Orthopedic department and the Maternal and Pediatric departments.
"What year is this?" I asked after I finished reading the description.
"2022." Mark answers. "Ohh.. Here you come."
I immediately spot Callie 2 and Arizona walking in and I had to admit Arizona looked stunning. She has always been one of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and I don't think that will ever change. That night she was wearing a blue dress that brought out the colour in her eyes and it also leaves very little to the imagination. It took months after the crash to get Arizona to feel comfortable in a dress and I'm so glad I managed to get her to that point. Arizona never wearing a dress again would have been a travesty.
Mark and I watch as Richard Webber and Catherine Avery walk over and greet the two surgeons. That was one friendship that took me completely by surprised. When I remember how Arizona was around Richard when he was the Chief I have to laugh. She would get so embarrassed about crying whenever she stood up to him although she did get over that eventually. I find myself wondering how they became the good friends they are now.
-GA-
"Callie, Arizona." Richard hugged both women before looking around the room. "It's a great turn out so far." Although Richard had retired as a surgeon the year before he still spent a lot of time at the hospital when Catherine was out of town. He often taught students and helped out with research. It kept him busy and his mind active.
"We can see that." Callie smiled as she wrapped her arm around Arizona's waist. There were a lot more people there than they had expected. "Hopefully plenty of people are donating."
"So far, so good." Catherine assured her. "I think we might surpass what we were expecting tonight."
"It certainly helps when all the sport stars Calliope has helped turn up." Arizona admitted, proudly.
"I'm sure a few of the wealthy people you have helped are here too." Callie smiled. It was no secret that Orthopedics made the most money for most hospitals but with Arizona becoming a very respected and sort after Fetal surgeon, that part of the hospital had seen increasing profits too. It was also the main reason for the new wing.
"Speaking of wealthy." Richard pointed to a group of people standing near the bar. "Addison was looking for you earlier."
"We'll go and see her soon." Callie said before taking Arizona's hand. "We should go and do a meet and greet. See if we can talk these people out of more money."
"Ok." Arizona smiled at Richard and Catherine, "We'll see you later." And she let herself be pulled away.
"It's great to see them so happy again." Richard grinned as he watched them walk away. When he was Arizona's wingman and he would watch her go home with different women, he always hoped all roads would lead back to Callie. They were perfect for each other.
"Yes it is." Catherine agreed. "I never really knew them before they split but everyone told me what they were like as a couple. It's great to finally see that. Now if only I could get my son to sort his love life out, we would both be happy."
"I still can't believe all of this is happening, Calliope." Arizona admitted as they walked away from the Webbers. "6 years ago, could you honestly see us being here, together, getting ready to open a brand new wing of the hospital. A wing dedicated to our specialities?"
"6 years ago I couldn't see us together at all." Callie squeezed Arizona's hand. She didn't like to remember the years between the divorce and them getting back together. Sometimes she had to ask herself how she ever thought she could be happy without Arizona in her life. "I'm so glad we finally got back here."
"Me too." Arizona agreed. "I love you, Calliope."
Leaning over to her, Callie placed a soft kiss on Arizona's lips. "I love you too."
-GA-
"We seem to be doing well for ourselves." I admitted as I watched Callie 2 and Arizona mingle with the guests at the hospital.
"You are." Mark agrees. "You are the main surgeon for nearly all the professional sports teams in Seattle. You are becoming the go to surgeon for most cartilage repairs, even with athletes from abroad. Arizona is one of the most recommended Fetal specialists in the country. In this future she managed to get around her fear of planes. If she needs to fly for work she uses the new hospital helicopter. It takes a little longer but it gets her there."
"I was so mad at her when she said she wanted to do the Fetal fellowship. I thought it was her way of getting away from her family." I admitted. I remember the arguments we had about the fellowship. Arizona swore to me that she still wanted to have more kids and that the fellowship wasn't going to change that. I never believed her. "But she has been there for Sofia just as much since the divorce."
"It was never about getting away from you, Cal." Mark told me. "It was about her feeling like she needed to prove that she deserved you."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. I never made her feel like she didn't deserve me. In fact she made me feel like she didn't want me.
"After the crash, Arizona lost her sense of self-worth. She was constantly worried that you didn't really want her anymore and that you stayed with her out of pity." Mark told her. "She heard people around the hospital saying that she didn't deserve you and that you would be better off with someone else. Someone who could give you everything you wanted. Then there was the whole cheating thing, which pushed her even lower. She didn't think she deserved you, even if you did still want her. That fellowship was her way of giving you something to be proud of her for."
"And then I left her." I said, sadly. I should have realised there was more going on with Arizona. So many things happened, with the plane crash, her leg, the miscarriage and the cheating, that I just gave up trying to see what was going on. She wasn't the woman I married and that was all I saw. It got to the point where I didn't even care why.
"Yeah, you did." Mark agreed. "The fellowship gave her something to focus on though so in some ways I think it saved her."
"She looks so happy." It brought a smile to my face as I watched the two women talk and joke with Addison and some of the other doctors from the hospital. "We both do."
"You are happy." Mark confirmed before he held out his hand. "Come on, time to go."
As I reached for his hand, I realised this was the first visit I didn't want to leave.
