Title: Probability
Author: gabs88
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Summary: A one shot based in the alternate universe of season eight. I need to come up with a new summary because it ain't a one shot nomore...
Rating: This is an M rating. Just saying.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to ABC/Shonda Rhimes. The story is mine.
Note: Seriously, love the feedback. You guys all kick ass, you're so enthusiastic about this! I find this fic so...fun.
Probability
Awkward
Arizona was absolutely, one hundred percent wrecked.
She was on her knees, the ground rough on her skin, and she was gulping in breaths of air.
Chelsea fell to the floor next to her, rolling on to her back and staring straight upwards. Arizona flopped down beside her, chest rising and falling with each breath.
"Fuck, Arizona. What was that?"
Arizona couldn't even roll her head to look at her, she was the stuffed. Instead she squinted, focusing above her. She wrapped her hands around one knee and pulled it against her chest, groaning as she stretched her muscles.
Chelsea rolled her head to look at her, smiling, face flushed and sweat coating her brow, "Seriously. What was that? I'm not going to be able to walk tomorrow at this rate."
Arizona shrugged and turned her head, a smile on her lips, "That was only half of it."
Chelsea looked torn between feeling horrified and excited, "What?"
"I'm not done yet."
Arizona pushed herself up, looking down at Chelsea who reached a hand up and pushed her sweaty bangs off her forehead, looking at her with wide eyes. She gulped, "Really?"
Arizona nodded, reaching for her, "Really."
Her hand wrapped around her wrist and Arizona pushed herself up, dragging Chelsea with her. She started jogging, Chelsea groaning and pushing herself forward to run beside her, their feet steady on the path beneath them, "It's been an hour."
Chelsea, the fittest person Arizona knew, was whining but Arizona knew she had a lot more than this in her. Arizona nodded, ponytail bouncing, "Yeah, it has."
Finding her rhythm, her brown haired friend quit her bitching and shut up. She was far fitter than Arizona, running marathons every chance she had, "So come on. Spill. Last time we ran like this was in college after Asha."
Arizona threw a dirty look at her sideways and Chelsea laughed, "Seriously? That's still sore?"
Arizona huffed, "We were together six months and she was sleeping with her anthropology professor for better grades."
Chelsea half muttered under her breath, "She sure studied that human behaviour."
"What?"
Chelsea threw her a grin, "Nothing."
They ran silently for a moment.
"So does this have anything to do with the straight chick you were banging?"
Arizona slowed down, throwing her a horrified look and Chelsea slowed down next to her, looking at her bemusedly before speeding up and forcing Arizona to run to catch up.
"Did you just say banging?!"
Chelsea shrugged, "Just trying it." She looked to Arizona, "No?"
Arizona shook her head, hair flying, "No."
"Oh." Chelsea looked genuinely sad, "I liked it. Anyway-to do with the straight chick. Yes or no?"
Arizona grit her teeth and ran on, staring straight ahead.
"I knew it! Weren't you casual? You do casual better then Tiffany does relationships, and that's saying something, 'cause that girl u-hauls like there's no tomorrow."
Arizona shrugged.
Chelsea's mouth dropped open, "Arizona Robbins! Do you-"
She threw Chelsea a look that would make a baby cry. However, it just made her friend smirk. Chelsea, true to form, was only able to run in silence for a minute.
"How long were you straight girls sex friend?"
Arizona rolled her eyes, realising she should keep her drunken mouth shut with her friends, "Three months or so."
"And it was purely casual?"
"Yes."
They rounded a corner and Chelsea just kept going, "And she had nothing to do with you ignoring the advances of that stupidly hot brunette a few weeks back?"
Arizona shook her head, "Of course not. I just had work early."
"It was one am and you were hammered. Like work was on your mind."
"It was."
"Sure."
"Chelsea, shut up."
"C'mon! She was hot! And your type. All curvy and full of dance moves."
"I had work."
Chelsea rolled her eyes and chose to leave that argument, "So is the sex at least good? I'm assuming after three months."
"Yes. It was awesome."
"Excellent! Wait-was?"
Arizona ran faster, "She ended it a few days ago."
Chelsea sped up, keeping pace easily where Arizona felt like she was going to have a coronary, "Oh. What made her end it after three months?"
"She's straight."
Chelsea actually laughed out loud, "Right. After three months of dragging you in to random places for sex, she's straight. More like she freaked out."
Arizona slowed down to a stop, hands on her hips and breathing hard, looking at Chelsea, "You think?"
"What do you care? Arizona Robbins only does casual-I remember you telling my twenty something self that when I confessed undying love to you right after college."
Arizona rolled her eyes, "I've had relationships."
"Yeah, you had some things, and then you hit your intern year and you became a player." Chelsea ignored Arizona's indignant look and looked at her quizzically, "So why has three months with this one gotten under your skin?"
Arizona stared at her for a minute and a slow grin over took Chelsea's face. Arizona started running and Chelsea laughed, pushing herself to catch up, still chuckling.
Arizona just ran faster.
####
Callie loved her kids. She loved them more than she knew she could love a human being. She loved them before she met them. When she was pregnant, she was so stupidly happy she annoyed the hell out of everyone and it was probably a good thing Owen was deployed for most of it because she was just so. stupidly. happy.
She was not so stupidly happy at five thirty in the morning with a tiny fist in her face and a knee the size of a small apple in her stomach. Opening her eyes, she saw the blonde hair of-she squinted harder-Jack, pressed against her. Realising she had a similar small knee pressed in to her back, Callie half rolled, expecting to see Danny and seeing the dark hair of Allegra snuggled against her.
The quick moment of not so happy passed and she smiled contentedly.
She loved her kids.
She reached an arm forward and pulled Jack in against her, kissing the top of his head as he cuddled in to her front, murmuring in his sleep as only he did.
No idea when the kids had joined her, Callie closed her eyes again, falling to sleep easily in a bed where she no longer had to worry about a husband that scared her.
She opened her eyes a few hours later and blinked at the clock, seeing it was just after seven. Her bed was empty, both sides of her still warm. It being Saturday, Allegra had probably woken up and snuck out to put the cartoons on low, taking Jack with her. Danny, the sound sleeper, would undoubtedly be fast asleep in bed still.
She rolled on to her back and stared at the ceiling.
She was practically divorced. With her three kids.
Owen had decided she should get the house, the kids mostly being based with her and him not wanting to uproot everyone and change even more things in their children's lives. Callie had accepted, because to be honest she agreed and Owen was still in therapy.
So she was a home owner and a single mother with an ex husband in therapy for his PTSD. She was the Attending at a hospital leading her department in leaps and bounds. She was known for being a risk taker, for being a leader in her field. In work, Callie Torres took risks like no one else and pushed boundaries and won.
In life though, Callie liked stability. She liked a long term relationship and her house and her kids.
So what had she been doing with Arizona Robbins for three months?
Callie almost rolled her eyes at herself. She had needed a distraction from her failing marriage that badly she'd thrown herself in to the arms of a woman.
She was straight. She loved men. She loved sex with men.
She had also discovered she loved sex with women, but that was beside the point.
She gave a laugh.
She was fine.
Though it had been three days and she kind of missed Arizona.
Just the friend side of her, though, of course.
Callie rolled herself out of bed and walked in to the boys room. She paused in the door way, smiling at Danny sprawled on his stomach. He slept like his father used to, with utter abandon. She found herself hoping, in a detached, no longer her problem way (which was kind of refreshing) that Owen started sleeping like that again soon.
She scooped her son up, barely awake, and walked down the stairs with him, plopping on the couch with her other two children children and smiling at their surprise.
"Your bother was missing out."
She would watch cartoons with her kids and maybe go to the park.
That's what Callie was going to do today.
####
Arizona bit her lip and wrote harder in the chart.
It had been five says since Callie had walked out of her apartment and she was missing her. And she didn't want to be missing her. She missed her more than she missed her friends she only saw once a week and Arizona wanted to pretend it was just the sex thing that she missed but really, it was just Callie.
Well, she missed the sex. It had been practically...continuous, those three months. And now it was just, stopped. And that kind of sucked. But what sucked more was it just wasn't just the sex.
And that was dumb, because Callie was done with that. Easily, it would seem. She had sent Arizona some carefree, friendly type message the other day that Arizona had responded to in kind while inside she was kicking herself for wishing it was an invite an on call room. Instead, it was a message about her day and saying 'hey'.
How lame.
She wanted to be Callie's friend but at the same time, Callie made her want something Arizona hadn't found herself wanting in a long time. She had always been so content with serial dating and being casual and enjoying moments with women, not moments with a woman. She'd gotten through her horror show days as a resident and climbed to the top of the surgical food chain. She was focussed and she thanked part of that due to not having relationship dramas.
And now she was thinking about stupid Callie at stupid work.
Arizona's phone went off in her pocket and she pulled it out and saw a text from Chelsea.
Say yes!
Arizona rolled her eyes and dropped her phone back in her pocket.
She found herself looking forward to drinking with her friends this weekend. She could go out, dance and throw herself in to the scene she'd checked out of the last few months and forget all about straight Calliope Torres.
And then suddenly, straight Calliope Torres was leaning against the nurses station, looking like the impeccable Attending she was and Arizona plastered a smile on her face and took a subtle step backwards.
Callie was wearing the A line skirt that hugged everything just right. Last time she'd worn this skirt, Arizona had slipped in to Callie's office. She had been sitting in her high back office chair, looking frazzled and stressed as she went over paper work. Arizona had knelt in front of her and pushed the skirt up, blue eyes on Callie's, and-
"Calliope." Arizona purposefully didn't breathe in too deeply, because Callie smelt amazing, always, and friends who weren't sleeping together didn't breath each others scents in, "Hi."
Callie smiled that smile that lit up her whole face and Arizona felt her heart speed up.
"Hey. So," Callie fiddled with the pen on top of the chart Arizona had been writing in, "I had this friend, and we saw each other a lot. And now we don't. And I miss her." Callie looked up, eyes twinkling, "Maybe we could, you know, catch up? Coffee in the morning? Lunch at the cafeteria?"
Arizona smiled harder. Callie missed her.
Then she mentally kicked herself. She missed her conversation.
She had avoided Callie at work the last few days, something incredibly easy to do considering their specialties.
She couldn't do this.
Friends with benefits ended, and often the friends part did, too.
Arizona didn't want that. She didn't want no friendship with Callie. Because that meant no Callie. She couldn't have sex with Callie, because she was straight and had ended whatever it was they were doing. So she just needed, a breather, between going from sex friend to friend. She thought she could do the friend thing straight away. But no. Looking at her now, in that skirt, and that smile, Arizona just needed-she needed a breather. Her last memory was this woman pressed against her door and coming undone on her hand and friends didn't think about that.
Arizona nodded, "Yeah-soon?"
Callie looked at her watch, "How about one?"
Arizona tried to keep her look relaxed. She was not used to saying no to Callie. Ever.
"Um, I have surgery."
"Oh, I thought I saw the board earlier and you weren't on there. How about later? A coffee?"
Arizona tilted her had, still smiling, looking at Callie, "I have a meeting."
Callie was starting to look confused, "Uh-okay. When would suit you?"
"How about, maybe next week?"
She looked crestfallen, "What?"
"Uh-let's just, take a little bit of time. A break between-" Arizona looked around, mindful of where they were, "Everything."
"I thought we were friends."
Arizona nodded, "Oh, we are. Or will be. Maybe."
Arizona actually didn't know what was coming out of her mouth.
"Maybe?"
Arizona's pager went off and she grimaced, looking down, "We just-it's complicated, Callie. Friends-maybe we shouldn't be-" Her pager went off before she coud explain where her brain was going and she looked up, "I'm sorry, it's the pit. I have to run."
And Callie watched her turn around, confused as to what was complicated.
They were supposed to be friends.
#####
"Did you think she'd just happily go from your friend to your sex friend and just jump straight in to being friends again?"
Callie looked at Addison, confused, "Well-yeah."
Addison rolled her eyes and poured them both another wine. Mark was banished upstairs with Rylie and Addison had expressed enough breast milk for a small army and they were drinking wine on Addison's insistence. They had just finished their first and while Callie felt relaxed and content, Addison already looked on her way to well drunk.
Twelve months of not drinking and sleep deprivation was an amusing thing.
Still, Addison had ushered Callie through this moment after Allegra and then the twins, so Callie sucked it up and leant forward, filling up both their glasses and Addison smiled happily, reaching for hers.
"I missed wine. It's like a balm. Why can't we prescribe alcohol for our patients?"
"We can."
"Oh. Yeah. Well, not the pregnant mothers I take."
"True. that would be wrong."
"What's wrong is you not having mid blowing sex when you have access to it."
"Addie-" Callie rolled her eyes.
"No! Don't Addie me. She made you pass out. You don't say no to that kind of sex. I told Mark that happened and-"
"You told Mark!?"
Addison waved her hand dismissively and leant back in to the couch, "Yes. He couldn't believe it and got all indignant because he's never made a woman pass out."
Callie paused, "Really?"
Addison giggled, "Really. He got this weird look on his face and said 'well done Robbins'."
Callie smirked, then shook her head, "Look. It's not the point. I-I like to date men."
Addison eyed her as she sipped her wine, "You miss her."
"I miss her friendship."
"Hey! I not friend enough for ya?"
Callie rolled her eyes, "You're amazing. But I'm allowed more than one friend."
"Valid point."
Callie was silent and Addison rolled her eyes, "So go! Be friends with her!"
"We just spoke about this. She said she wanted friend space and some time between being friends and what we were doing. But we were friends while we were doing it, so I don't really get her stupid logic, can't we just-"
"God, just go tell her you miss her then. Tell her you want her friendship. Or tell her what you really want, which is to shack back up in to an on call room."
"I don't want that! I want-" Callie paused.
"Earth shattering orgasms with a long term partner who loves and supports you."
"Yeah."
Addison raised her eyebrows at her drunkenly to see if she'd get it.
Callie didn't.
Addison drank more wine and left it.
Callie rambled, clearly not getting her point, "And I don't want that even, not right now. My divorce is really only just becoming finalised."
Addison was clearly over the drama talk, "God. You'll be friends. It'll be okay."
"You think?"
"Yes. Just admit you miss the sex." Addison all but leant forward in her seat and poked her in the chest with her index finger.
Callie rolled her eyes, "Fine, of course I do. It's like taking cigarettes of a pack a day smoker and giving them nothing to replace it with."
Addison snorted, "Being buying lots of batteries lately?"
"Addie!"
Smirking, she raised her eyebrows, "This was much more fun when you had sex stories."
"Oh, well, so sorry my life problems bore you now."
"Can't you be a lesbian? That would be so much more entertaining. They have so much drama, on the L Word-"
"What's that?"
Addison grinned, "You've not seen it?"
"No."
"Oh, you're in for a treat."
She got up and wobbled her way to her DVD collection, pulling out a box set. She sat back on the couch and handed it to to Callie.
Callie read it and narrowed her eyes, "You own a box set about lesbians?"
"Why does it matter if they're gay or straight, it's awesome entertainment. Watch it."
Callie dropped it in her hand bag.
"Okay." She sipped her wine, "So you think I should push the friends thing?"
"Ugh!" Addison threw herself back and pulled a couch cushion over her head, "You are so dumb and clueless!"
It came out muffled as all hell in the pillow.
"What?"
Addison pulled the pillow away, smiling sweetly.
"Nothing."
####
Callie wanted her friend back, but Arizona was a damn good avoider.
She'd sent her another text, just saying
Coffee soon?
And Arizona had replied with a,
Of course, next week still, yeah? :)
Whenever she had a paeds case she was getting incredibly sick of seeing Karev's face. And on the odd occasions Arizona had had to show up, she'd had a huge smile on her face and chatted to Callie like they were distant work friends and then would give a slight wave on her way out of the consult and surgery, a cheery, "See you soon, Callie."
What the hell?
Callie pushed the bar door to Joes open, well aware that she, once a regular here, had only been here with Arizona the last few times in years she had made it. Her shift had finished late and Owen had the kids this weekend. She had huge amounts of housework to do but she needed a distraction. And she had ceased her old distraction so couldn't use that, so instead was headed for a quick drink before she went home to soak in the bath and have a wine.
If it was a month ago, she would have text Arizona and they'd meet her for a drink. They'd laugh and chat and drink wine, and one of them would drag the other to the bathroom at some point. They'd emerge later and either go their separate ways, or sit back down and have a few more wines.
Arizona's hair would catch in the light and make her flushed cheeks stand out. She'd bite her lip in that way Callie had noticed since the first time they drank together and look up at her under her lashes and not only would Callie want to go back to the bathroom, but she'd find herself smiling.
She shook her head.
She'd stopped it because she was a grown woman and divorced and-just, because.
But she did miss Arizona's company.
Callie managed to find a spot at the bar, sliding on to the stool and ordering a stronger drink than usual. Her kids were with their Dad and she had no reason to not enjoy a whisky, straight up. Her and Owen had used to have the odd one together, back when they were hot and heavy for each other and their lives weren't trauma and children.
She had a sip and leant her elbow on the bar, looking around and suddenly found her head snapping over to the darker corner of the bar where a gathering of eight or so women stood and sat together. What caused her head to almost give her whiplash was she heard a laugh she'd recognise anywhere.
She'd heard it husked in her ear and directed at her in hallways and over lunch tables.
Arizona stood with her back to her, talking to someone who sat on a stool.
Callie, out of nowhere, decided to make her talk to her.
No it wasn't very respectful but she genuinely didn't get why they couldn't just be damn friends. She was an excellent friend.
Callie walked up and stood behind Arizona, staring at the back of her head. She was wearing jeans that hugged her-Callie took a quick sip.
"I'm an excellent friend."
Arizona turned, drink in hand, and her eyes widened slightly even as she smiled, "Calliope."
"Like, an exceptional friend. I'm funny and witty and I can be all kinds of supportive. I can cook a damn good meal-my kids like my mashed potato, but adults tend to like my chicken piccata or lasagna-I make a mean casserole. And if we were really friends you'd be lucky enough to experience all of this. But instead you're avoiding me and being all weird. And I think that makes you, a little stupid. You're missing out."
Arizona watched her wide eyed, sipping her drink while she listened. When Callie finished talking, she looked at her pointedly.
"Calliope, this is Pippa."
Callie barely glanced at the smiling redhead seated next to Arizona, "Hi."
"My date." Arizona made an awkward face, smiling that smile she wore around the hospital and wrapped her lips around the straw in her drink, raising her eyebrows.
Callie's mouth hung open a minute before she closed it, took a long sip of her drink. She hesitated for a moment, mouth opening again as if she was about to say something, thought better of it and turned and walked away.
Arizona turned back to her date, a smile on her lips.
"Sorry about that."
####