Title: All Bets Are Off 13/?
Author: GreysAddictJ
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: NC-17/M
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. No infringement intended. Also, I don't use a beta, so all mistakes are mine.
Summary: A/U - World class professional poker player Arizona Robbins is known for keeping her cool in high intensity situations. What happens when an upstart new player, Callie Torres, sets her world spinning out of control?
The next morning, Arizona smiled as she awoke - naked, limbs intertwined with Callie's. She took in a deep breath, inhaling her girlfriend's seductive, unique scent, and savored the quiet intimacy. Taking a few moments to watch the beautiful woman in her arms sleep, she couldn't help but grin like an idiot. She was quite sure that this was about as close to heaven as she was going to get.
Slowly, Callie stirred, turning her body closer into Arizona's, as her sleep-glazed eyes fluttered open. "Morning," she muttered, still half-asleep.
"Morning, beautiful." Arizona smiled, gently kissing Callie and stroking a thumb over her cheek.
"Were you watching me sleep?"
"Maybe just a little. Couldn't help it. You're gorgeous when you sleep."
Callie rolled her eyes. "You're getting all corny, Arizona." She loved teasing her girlfriend.
"So what if I am? I can't help it if I have the hottest girlfriend in the world." With that, she recaptured Callie's lips, quickly deepening the embrace, making the direction of her thoughts immediately known. She rolled them over slightly, so that her body was atop Callie's, never losing contact with her lips. Their tongues slid together, savoring the sensation, the taste of each other as they slowly rocked against one another. Arizona reached down and gently kneaded Callie's breast in her hand. Callie let out a low moan and brought her thigh up between Arizona's legs, pressing it against her already heated center. Just as things were starting to take off, their interlude was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Ignore it." Callie said in between kisses. "Probably just housekeeping."
Arizona did just that, focused on nothing but the woman writhing underneath her. However, another knock sounded, invading their embrace. Arizona pulled back. "I'm not sure we put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign out last night, you know in all our haste." She shot Callie a dimpled grin as they both remembered their previous night's activities. "If I don't get it, the maid is probably going to come in here and get the shock of her life." Callie groaned as Arizona rolled off her and grabbed a robe, heading to the door.
Arizona opened the door, expecting to see the hotel's housekeeping staff. Instead, a distinguished older Hispanic man stood before her. "Uh . . . hello." Arizona responded after getting over the surprise.
"Hello. I must be mistaken. I thought my daughter . . ." The man began, clearly confused at seeing the blonde woman before him.
He was cut off, however, by Callie. She came walking into the room wearing nothing but a towel. "Arizona. What's taking you so long? You've been a very dirty girl and I think you need a shower . . ." The playful smirk that had been on Callie's face dropped away in shock as she saw the man standing in the door way.
"Uh . . . hi Daddy," Callie managed to squeak out.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" Carlos Torres asked, seemingly unperturbed by Callie's decidedly inappropriate choice of words.
Arizona's heart started beating uncontrollably fast. Callie's father. He was here. And that couldn't be good. What really unnerved her, however, was the fact that he seemed so calm. She could see through his façade – he was definitely upset – but clearly was waiting for a better time to make his feelings known.
"This is . . . uh . . . this my uh . . . my friend, Arizona Robbins," Callie stuttered, still at a loss for words.
The words cut through Arizona like a knife. She was Callie's "friend." Her heart sank. How could she have been so stupid? Callie was a newborn, of course – she wasn't ready for this whole relationship with a woman thing. Arizona silently scolded herself. How had she let herself get so involved, so attached? Composing herself, she put on her best poker face and stuck her hand out. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Torres." She said it perhaps a little too perkily. He awkwardly accepted her hand, shaking it briefly before releasing it like it was something dirty and disgusting. "Now if you two will excuse me, I'm just going to get my things and head out. I've got some place to be." With that, Arizona practically ran to the bedroom, throwing her clothes on, eager to make an exit before she fell apart.
As Callie watched Arizona head from the room, she felt immediate guilt. In the shock of the moment, she'd panicked. She'd called Arizona her "friend." She was an idiot. But despite her best efforts to the contrary, she still cowered in her father's presence. He wasn't a mean or a harsh man, but he was always so in control, so silently judgmental, so powerful. It was hard not to be intimidated. And she'd always fallen in line, been his perfect little daddy's girl until just recently. "Uh, Dad. I'm going to go get dressed. Then maybe we can talk? Can I meet you at the coffee shop downstairs in 10 minutes?"
He nodded. "Thank you, Calliope. Yes, that's fine. We have a lot to discuss it seems."
Callie swallowed nervously and headed back to the bedroom, needing to catch Arizona before she left.
Arizona was already dressed and putting on her shoes. The stricken look on her face left Callie with little doubt as to how she was feeling.
"I'm sorry, Arizona. I didn't mean for things to come out the way they did. I panicked."
Arizona shook her head. "It's okay, Calliope. I understand. It's hard for you – and this is new. And maybe it's not what you want. I'm going to head out and give you some time with your dad, some time to figure things out. I'm okay, really." Of course, she was anything but okay, but she wasn't about to let on. She gathered her stuff and headed from the room.
Callie collapsed on the bed. The wave of conflicting emotions crashed over her, almost overwhelming her. She'd never been happier than she'd been since she met Arizona. She also loved the poker. She was good at it . . . and she knew deep down that she'd keep getting better. But she was also scared. She'd never disappointed her father in her whole life, but it seemed that streak might have just come to an end. After taking a moment to collect herself, she dressed and headed to meet him. She took a deep breath as she entered the coffee shop, bracing herself for the inevitable lecture to come.
Sliding into the seat opposite him, she stared down at her hands, unable to make eye contact. She remained silent, waiting for him to speak.
"What's going on with you, Calliope?"
"Nothing. I'm fine. Why are you here, Daddy? And how did you find me?"
"It seems you've been playing poker. A colleague saw you on TV the other day and brought it to my attention."
Callie's heart sank. Those TV cameras, the ones that had been filming the day of the Ladies' Event, must have taped her.
Her father continued. "Gambling, Calliope? You know that's a sin. I raised you better than that. I know that you took your breakup with Steve hard, but really? Gambling. I have to say I'm disappointed in you. You said you needed your space, and I gave that to you. But I think we both know it's time you came home."
Callie struggled with the warring emotions inside her. She'd felt so free since coming to Las Vegas. It was a brand new start, a brand new her. But the old Callie, the one she'd buried deep inside, was still eager to please her father.
"I'm not so sure, Daddy . . . " Callie began, but was cut off by her father.
"And this friend of yours, Arizona, was that her name? What kind of name is that? It sounds like a stage name for an exotic dancer. She's not a dancer is she?"
Callie shook her head, forcing herself to suppress the slight laugh that threatened to bubble up at her father's concern over Arizona's name. "No. She plays poker."
"Are you sure she's a good influence on you?" Her father didn't mention the nature of her relationship, but there was no doubting his meaning.
Callie thought about her response for a minute, chewing her lip in contemplation as she fidgeted uncomfortably. She debated how much to tell him, again, her fear of disappointing him rearing its ugly head. However, it was obvious that he suspected something was going on between them, so was there really any point in remaining in denial?
She let out a deep breath before proceeding. "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me, Daddy." Callie finally looked up and gazed directly into his eyes, letting him know how much she meant it.
"I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that, Calliope. Please enlighten me." He gave her his best staredown, the look that sent many running for the hills.
Undeterred by his stare, she continued. "Arizona and I have been dating. And she makes me incredibly happy. She makes me a better person. She's amazing. For the first time in my life, I feel like myself. I feel like I'm where I belong. And I love playing poker. I'm good at it – and I'm just going to get better. This new life I'm slowly crafting for myself here – it feels right." She paused, anxious and scared at the same time to hear his response.
"When they nicknamed this place 'Sin City,' they weren't kidding. First the gambling, and now this woman. It's an abomination. Your mother and I raised you better than that. Calliope, I'm disappointed in you. You've let yourself become misguided, you've lost your way. I think we both know that it's time for you to come home to Miami. You've had your fun. It's time you settled down with a good man and started a family."
"No." Callie replied, hoping her face didn't betray the turmoil and uncertainty she was feeling.
"No? You've never disobeyed me before, Calliope. To say I'm concerned would be an understatement."
"I'm sorry, Daddy, but I'm happy here." Callie struggled to keep her composure, not sure how much more she could take. She was standing her ground, but she knew if he kept pushing, her willpower might break.
"Calliope, you leave me with no other choice. Either you fly home with me today or I'm going to be forced to remove my support for you and this alternative lifestyle of yours. You'll be on your own. Please don't do this. I love you and want nothing but the best for you."
"Then don't give me ultimatums." Callie replied, hoping to somehow force him to back down.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures. So which is it going to be, Calliope?" He stared deep into her eyes, letting her know he was deadly serious.
Callie closed her eyes, struggling to maintain control. Her inner turmoil was wreaking havoc on her. She had been so happy. Free. Confident. In control of her life for the first time. Proving to herself that she could make it on her own. But could she really? She'd always had her father there as a safety net. Was she strong enough to truly make it on her own? Of course, she wouldn't be on her own. She'd have Arizona. She'd have her friends. But what if she and Arizona didn't make it? Then she'd have no girlfriend and no family. But family was supposed to accept her for who she was. She was so confused.
"Well, Calliope?" Her father interrupted her reverie. She took a deep breath. There was really only one thing to do. She took a deep breath and began . . .