A/N

Welcome back!

There are some ups and then there are downs. But don't worry, I'm always more into the up.

Chapter 21

The following Tuesday I'm sitting with Addie, and Teddy in Callie's office having lunch with her when there is a knock on the door. Callie gets up to see who it is and at first the person doesn't come in. Callie is just talking to them from the doorway. After a moment I see Callie reach her hand out, presumably to shake the stranger's hand and welcome them inside.

I can now see an auburn-haired woman with a pixie cut standing with my girlfriend, she looks familiar but I can't place her.

"We were just having lunch, but why don't you come in so I can introduce you to a few other professors? Starting on the left we have Addison Montgomery and Teddy Altman, they both teach history. And that leaves Arizona Robbins who teaches English with me. Ladies this is my new TA for next semester, Reed Adamson."

Shit.

My eyes lock onto Reed's and I can see the recognition in them but she just smiles at all of us, "Hi, it's so nice to meet you. I didn't expect a full house. I'm sorry to interrupt your lunch ladies. I just wanted to introduce myself to Miss Torres before the holiday started and let her know how excited I am for the opportunity to work with her. But I won't keep you any longer, enjoy the rest of your days."

"Thank you for stopping by," Callie tells Reed as she walks her back to the door, "I really appreciate the introduction. Please feel free to email me with any questions. And if I don't see you again I hope you have a good break."

"Thanks, you too."

Callie joins me back on the couch to finish our lunch. I mostly eat in silence while the other three women continue to chat animatedly. I am not really listening to what they are saying anymore. I'm too focused on what just happened.

"Arizona?"

"Huh?" I look up to see three sets of eyes on me. Clearly it wasn't the first time my name had been said. "I'm sorry Teddy, what did you say?"

"We were just discussing Christmas. But what's gotten into you?" Teddy doesn't let me off the hook.

"Oh, it's nothing. What's going on for Christmas?"

"Nice try, you've been acting strange eve since Reed stopped by." Callie sounds concerned, "Is there something wrong with her? There is no way that you worked with her, this was her first semester here."

"Um… no, I haven't worked with her before."

"Well that was intentionally vague, spill it Robbins."

I glare at Addison, "It's not nothing, really. Just drop it, Addie."

"Oh my god… you slept with her," Callie's shaky voice cuts through. I notice that even though her voice waivers it is not a question. It's a statement. Or even more, an accusation. "What about all of that stuff you told Mark about sleeping with students? About how upset you got when you found out I slept with a professor? Was it because you know what a bad idea it is from experience? Didn't want him to go through the same trouble?"

"It's not what you think, Callie. Can we please not talk about this right now?"

"We have already started, so I think that it would be better for you to explain… sooner rather than later. How could you have even slept with her? She just started this semester! We've been together since the before classes started. Did you… was she, oh my god," she nearly chokes on her words. "Was she be-fore me o-or… after me?"

The last words are barely audible. "Callie, no. She was before you. Way… way before you," she seems to be listening so I continue, "I met her the last time I had leave. Tim and I were stateside together right before my last deployment and he had the bright idea to go to Myrtle Beach for spring break. She and I hooked up a couple of times, but it was like five years ago. End of story."

She is just sitting there; she has a few tears gathered in her eyes. I reach for her hands and thankfully she doesn't pull away. I look over to Teddy and Addison and they are sitting silently trying not to interrupt but failing to hide their interest. I cup Callie's cheek gently and I try to get her look at me. It takes her a few moments but her eyes finally lock on mine and she rolls her eyes at herself as the tears fall.

"You didn't date her?" Her voice is soft, vulnerable.

"No," I answer simply, "It's just a very unlikely spring break moment that hopefully isn't coming back to haunt me."

She finally looks up with a bit of embarrassment evident on her face, "I'm really sorry for being so crazy."

"Well one of us has to be, maybe we can take turns?"

"I think your kid is going to make sure it's my turn for a few more months."

I laugh, thank god I'm laughing and she leans into my hand as I wipe away her tears and kiss her gently.

Addison clears her throat, "Not to break up this moment. But do you think she remembered you?"

I cringe, "Yeah. I guess I was looking for it but her eyes went a bit wide. Plus, if she didn't recognize my face I'm pretty sure she at least recognized my name."

"Well, she did a pretty good job at hiding it."

I roll my eyes at Addison, "Would you walk into a room full of new people and just say 'Oh hey, didn't we sleep together?'" She raises an eyebrow, "Of course you would."

"What are you going to do, Callie?" Teddy thankfully questions, "Is she still going to be your TA?"

Callie laughs a humorless laugh, "Well I can't just fire her for sleeping with my girlfriend once upon a time."

"Well, I'm sure that you wouldn't have to give that explanation to Bailey."

"Thanks, Red. I'm not going to fire her. Her résumé wasn't the best but I sort of ran out of options." When we look at her questioningly she explains further, "There were only two other candidates. The one I wanted was Shane Ross, but he is spending the next semester studying abroad in Switzerland or something. George O'Malley was my second choice but he apparently joined the Army last month. Bailey didn't have any other résumés to give me so I think I'm stuck with her."

That causes me to laugh, "That's some top three. What are the fuckin' odds?"

It takes a moment for that to sink in but soon we are all laughing hard and I can finally feel the tension leave the room.

The next day I'm eating lunch alone in my office. Callie doesn't have class on Wednesday and I don't really feel like socializing. Even though we cleared the air yesterday in her office things were still a bit off with Callie. I'm not sure if it's her being weird or me, but I can't help but think that it's me. She practically accused me of cheating on her, or at least lying to her. And sure, it only lasted a few minutes but it still hurt.

We didn't even spend the night together. Our pact to keep things slow and new didn't really last. Now it's more often than not that we share a bed. I didn't like going to bed alone last night with all of these questions running through my head.

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on my door.

"Come in," I call.

I can't say that Reed Adamson was the last person I expected to walk through my door, but she certainly was low on the list.

"Hi, how can I help you?" I keep my voice even.

"You don't have to put up an act, I know that you remember me," she replies with an air of superiority.

"I do remember you, but that was a long time ago. And I don't think that would be a very professional conversation. Is there something that I can help you with?"

She makes herself comfortable in the chair across from me, "I just wanted to clear the air. It wasn't exactly how I pictured meeting my boss, you know? I'm not one to spread rumors so I wanted you to know that I'm not going to go blabbing that we slept together. But I also wouldn't hate a repeat performance."

I cringe and she notices.

"You told them? Well that's nice. I can't wait to get over that first impression."

"It wasn't like that, I didn't really want to tell them but," I pause to take a breath trying to decide how to continue, "Callie… Miss Torres and I are in a relationship. I'm sure you know exactly why you have been hired on?"

"To cover maternity leave. For your girlfriend? Oh man, this just got even better," she replies sarcastically. "And now she knows that we have had sex and I have to work with her for the next four and a half months."

"As long as you don't suggest we sleep together," I respond pointedly, "It shouldn't be a problem. I explained to her that it was a long time ago. She and I are in a committed relationship; she has nothing to worry about."

"Ok fine, if you say so. It was worth a shot. But I'll just blame the rest on being eighteen and hope that gets me off the hook."

"Don't make it sound so blasé, Reed. You have to be professional…" I begin but the second half of her statement causes me pause, "Wait, you were only eighteen? Oh god, what were you doing in a bar?" I question a little frantically.

"The same thing you were I'm assuming," she smirks.

"Oh my god, you were practically a child!"

"Okay, now you're the one who needs to relax. It was over five years ago, but I was not a child. I knew what I was doing and you really knew what you were doing."

"Dammit, Reed. I said to stop. It is inappropriate for you to keep talking to me this way. Not only am I a professor and you are a student, but I am with Callie. She is your boss. Don't make me regret telling her that the situation was okay."

She rolls her eyes, "Right, on that note I'm going to head out. Can I just ask for a clean slate?"

I consider her for a moment, she hasn't really done anything wrong. Even though she's not being the most professional person considering the situation. But soon I stand from behind my desk and walk around to offer her my hand which she takes, "Deal."

"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you around."

"Thank you for stopping by, Reed," I dismiss her.

"My pleasure, Miss Robbins."

With that I'm once again alone in my office. I plop myself down on my couch, "What is happening to my life?"

I need to get out of here, I need to go home and talk to Callie. I pack up my things and race to my car.

I arrive home faster than usual and I immediately make my way to the third floor to knock on Callie's door. It only takes her a few moments to answer the door, and when she does I'm met with a smile.

"Hey, babe. You're home early. Is everything okay?"

"Hi, yeah. Everything is fine mostly, I just needed to see you. I don't like how we left things yesterday."

She looks a little confused making me think that it really is just me, but I need to get everything off my chest.

"I understand that yesterday was a bit of an awkward situation. And it makes sense that you would assume I knew Reed from Seattle… but when you thought I had cheated on you that really hurt me."

She grabs my hand and leads me to sit on the couch, "I'm sorry, Arizona. I didn't think you cheated, not really."

"But that's the thing, Callie. You did think it. If even for a moment, it was there in your mind that you thought I was capable of something like that." I can tell that she wants to say something but I need to get this all out, "Don't say anything right now, please? Just let me finish and then we can talk about it."

She nods her head so I continue, "I have never cheated. I have never once been the type of person who thought cheating was okay. When I am in a relationship, I am in. And believe me when I tell you, I have never been in a relationship that means more to me than this one. It's not just because you are carrying my baby. It's because I love you. I love you so much that I think I'm crazy sometimes. For loving you more than anyone I have ever met. And yesterday to hear your beautiful voice question my love for you, well that broke my heart a little bit."

We are both silent for a moment before Callie speaks up, "Can I say something now?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. I don't even know where to begin... I guess I'll start at the end and work my way back. I love you. I am so sorry for making you think that I was questioning that you love me. And I'm so sorry for breaking your heart, even if just a little." She pauses and takes my lips in between her own. It's a little teary and tastes like salt, but I needed it just then.

"I have never cheated either. I have been cheated on but that is no excuse to accuse you. I trust you with my whole heart. What I said yesterday I didn't mean, I didn't think you slept with someone after we became girlfriends. I just thought that maybe you slept with someone before me, or honestly soon after me. And it wouldn't have been cheating… I know that. But you meant so much to me right away that I couldn't have even imagined sleeping with someone else."

"You meant everything to me from the moment I met you. I promise you that it's only been you."

"I believe you. Are we okay?"

"Yes, thank you for letting me get that off my chest. I didn't like being away from you last night."

"Well what do you say we head upstairs to your place so we can sleep there tonight?"

"I like that plan, let's go."

I'm wrapped up in my blankets and holding my love in my arms. I feel so much lighter after our talk this evening. And after dinner I explained to her that Reed came to my office to ask for a clean slate. I didn't tell her about everything she said, I could already see Callie's fiery temper. I don't want to fault Reed just because she may have a naturally flirty personality. Nor do I want Callie to hate working with her or make a rash decision to fire her. I know that she will really need a TA this semester. I'll just have to keep an eye on the situation myself.

Luckily there are only two more days of classes before we are officially on break and I couldn't be more ready, especially after the start of this week.

"Callie, are you still awake?"

"Yeah, is everything okay?"

"Of course, I just wanted to ask you what you were doing for Christmas? I didn't want to assume that we would be spending it together but if you aren't going anywhere I would like to be with you."

"I'll definitely be spending it with you. That's what Addie, Teddy, and I were discussing yesterday at lunch. Addie wants to throw a party at her house on Christmas day. Actually, she called it a soirée," she giggles. "But either way I think it sounds like fun."

"That does sound fun, Addie throws great soirées."

A few moments pass in silence.

"Callie?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"I'm in love with you."

With those words Callie turns in my arms so that she is facing me and kisses me. It's a deep kiss but it is also slow and soft. It's a good kiss.

I moan into her mouth and with one last peck she pulls away, "I'm in love with you too. Get some sleep, baby."

I spend the next twenty minutes lying there holding Callie, picturing our future together before I fall into a wonderful sleep.

A/N2

I hope you all liked it, I hate it when they fight but every relationship has a little bit of conflict.

We should find out what the girls are having in the next chapter. You have a 50/50 shot at being right ; )