Thank you everyone who read and reviewed or are following it. You guys are really awesome! :)
Dearest Guest (by now you know who you are), you hate me with such vengeance that I almost doubt you love me. It's quite funny how you read till chapter 20 and then dissect it all apart for me. Last I checked I wasn't holding a gun to your head and forcing you to read. Don't like don't read. As it is , you don't impress me by hiding behind your mask of anonymity. Your's Sincerely, the illiterate fool.
For everyone else, Happy Reading! :)
And note: previous chapter the Ginny's OBGY is called Dr Rutledge, I don't know why while uploading the word got deleted. I'll be referring to him now and then. Also this chapter is a little heavy on Ginny, you'll know why.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to Shonda, I'm simply playing with them.
"Ouch!" Alex yelped as a pillow hit him squarely on his head.
"You still have to eat that" he hollered back at Ginny as she sat grumpily at the kitchen counter, still dressed in her nightgown.
Alex plodded over to open the door as the doorbell was rung for the second time. Opening the door he came face to face with a tall, grey-haired, green-eyed man, dressed smartly in what looked like an expensive black suit, even as Ginny's "I hate you Alex Karev" rang out shrilly in the background. The man eyed him curiously and Alex self-consciously looked down at his blue and red superman shorts and worn-out med school T-shirt.
"How can I help you?" Alex began cautiously and then added a "Sir" to the end of it. Something about the man commanded that sort of respect. The man stared at him coldly before taking (an almost menacing) step forward. "I'm here to see Ginevra" he said in a deep voice devoid of any emotions whatsoever. Alex stepped back as he spluttered "I'm…who are…"
"Daddy?" Ginny interrupted as she came over to the door and seeing the man, her face broke into a huge smile before she ran into his open arms and he enveloped her in a hug. Breaking apart, he held her at arm's length and appraised her from top to toe. Finally cupping her face in his hands he said with a brief smile "You are glowing" She beamed and enjoyed his undivided attention for a minute before he turned his face and looked at Alex, the smile immediately disappearing from his face. "And who are you?" he demanded.
Alex realized a minute too late that the man was asking something of him, and risked appearing stupid. But he quickly recovered and extending his hands, he said with as much confidence he could muster "Alex Karev, Sir. I'm…I'm Ginny's…" well he didn't know what exactly he was to Ginny. True she had called him "boyfriend" that night at Sofia's party, but the two had not really spoken about it.
"The man who's responsible for my daughter's current condition" the older man said disdainfully, before he completely ignored Alex's outstretched hand and walked into the room. Ginny gave him an apologetic smile behind her father's back, before she followed him into the room and immediately engaged him in conversation.
"Well that wasn't awkward at all" mused Alex as he shook his head ruefully and shut the door.
"It couldn't have been more horrible" Alex finally finished relating the events of the morning to Arizona as the two walked back into Arizona's office after a successful morning surgery.
Arizona chuckled. She had had the (mis)fortune of meeting Orlando Fontane once, and it was an experience that Arizona was unlikely to forget. The fact that she was the first 'woman' whom Ginny had ever introduced to anyone in her family coupled with Arizona issues with authority figures, was enough to ensure that the meeting was anything but comfortable. She could guess how more infinitely worse the experience would have been for Alex. She at least, hadn't knocked up super-Catholic Orlando Fontane's only daughter out of wedlock.
"He isn't all that bad" she said, partly to encourage Alex, as she slipped behind her desk and Alex slumped into a chair before her. She arranged the papers on the desk and picked up the one catalogue that had caught her interest for days and immediately began perusing it.
"Of course he isn't" Alex scoffed. "Twenty minutes he sat staring at me while Ginny got ready for work, twenty minutes! I tried making conversation but he would just shut me up. And all the while he has this scary poker face. I swear his eyes could bore a hole in the Great Wall of China. The man…"
"is way better than Ginny's mom." Arizona broke in. "Ginny and her mom haven't had a single conversation that hasn't ended up in an argument, and when I say argument I mean the mother of all arguments. Both have a unique ability of arguing in the most polite yet bitter way, no shouting, no screaming and yet they go word for word against each other and there are only two ways in which Ginny's conversation with her mom end. One she slams down the phone and then we had hot angry sex, or the phone was slammed in her face and I spent the night holding her while she cried."
Alex would have laughed and taken heart from the statement, had it not been for the fact that Arizona was talking about her sex life that she shared with his…Ginny. Somehow that made Alex highly uncomfortable. But it was the truth, and his experience of handling Ginny after one of her "conversations" with her mother had been round about same.
"And with her dad, Ginny never raises her voice. She never counters him, never utters a word of disrespect." Arizona continued with a bemused expression on her face. "She is like this completely different person. You know, Alex, she didn't defend me once." Alex detected a little hurt in her voice. "She apologized for his behaviour later but while he was dicing up our relationship, or whatever it was, Ginny just sat there eating her lunch like he was talking about the weather. And just like that she began asking him about his assignments and the two continued with their conversation like I was invisible."
Alex frowned. Today morning too, Ginny had simply behaved like nothing was wrong while anyone who was blessed with at least one of the five human senses could have sensed the huge Yeti and his ice palace in the room. Was Ginny embarrassed of him? "What does he do anyway?" Alex asked pushing away his insecurities for the moment. "He gives me the impression that he knows an awful lot of secrets about me." And Alex was definitely not happy about it.
"He is a resourceful man, that's all I know" Arizona supplied as she flipped the catalogue. Suddenly her eyes fell on just the kind of item she was looking for and she whispered a reverent "wow".
"What are you looking at?" Alex asked curiously as he leaned over the desk and tried to read the catalogue upside down.
Arizona looked up and gave him a full blown dimpled smile. "For our anniversary Calliope is taking me to a Spa Resort for the weekend. So I, because I am awesome, decided to gift her something special. After all she's the woman who's changed my life" She had this dreamy look on her face that made Alex smile.
"So you're thinking jewellery?" he asked, catching up with her line of thought. When she nodded her head he continued. "You should try Turgeon and Raine, I checked out, they've got some really cool stuff and they are currently giving a discount."
Arizona eyed him curiously. "Why were you checking out Jewellery?" When he began shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Arizona tried again in her mommy-voice "Alex?"
"uhh…I..I bought a ring for Ginny" he said softly.
"You did what?" Arizona said jumping up from her chair. "Oh my God, Alex finally you're going to propose to her!" she began clapping her hands in excitement.
"Dude relax" Alex said standing up too, but he couldn't keep the smile from breaking out on his face. "I'm not proposing to her. Not yet. It's just a simple ring, more like a promise ring you know. Just a single emerald enclosed by five little diamonds. It's very…" He couldn't complete the sentence because Arizona had wrapped him up in a bone crushing hug.
"Alex bought Ginny a ring?" Callie asked loudly, her excitement getting the better of her. The other couples sitting around them looked at the two curiously. "Shhh" Arizona said leaning closer and tapping Callie's hand that she was holding in hers. "It's a secret, and he'll kill me if Ginny comes to know about it."
"But he bought her a ring" Callie whispered squeezing Arizona's hand. Arizona nodded her head. "I knew they were perfect for each other."
Callie snorted. "No you didn't. You tried breaking them apart. But me, I knew from the start they were meant for each other. Even during the times, you called their relationship a non-relationship. Admit it Arizona, I just have a natural ability for such things. While you…"
"I panic and I call things wrong" Arizona completed, but Callie noticed the subtle change in her demeanour. She wasn't just talking about Alex and Ginny. Callie cupped Arizona's face and questioned her with her eyes. Arizona read the question as loudly and clearly as if it were spoken. She kissed the tip of Callie's finger. "I was wrong when I said I didn't want a baby and didn't want to start a family with you. You made me change my mind. Sofia made me change my mind"
Callie leaned forward and kissed Arizona gently. "And now we're here." She was rewarded with a dimpled smile from Arizona. Before Arizona could say anything, a nurse called out their names "Torres-Robbins". The two quickly stood up. "Dr Frazer will see you now" the nurse informed them with a smile. Weaving Callie's hands with her own, Arizona tugged her towards meeting the fertility specialist.
"Dr Torres, Dr Robbins" greeted a balding man in his late forties, as soon as they stepped into the office. "I'm Dr Ryan Frazer" he said smiling and adjusting his glasses, as he sat down in his chair.
"I'm Arizona Robbins and this is my wife Callie" Arizona said as the two sat down, still holding hands.
"Dr Montgomery asked me to expect you. She told me a little about your case history, but I like making notes for myself. So how about we start right from the beginning?" He looked at them in a way that reminded Callie of her third grade teacher Mr Maxwell.
"So Arizona, Callie, I hear you have a daughter. Tell me about her" he said as he sat back in his chair and began making notes. With that began their 1 hour long meeting during the course of which they navigated through both of their medical histories while he also reassured them that they had nothing to fear about an untimely delivery, since it was an unnatural incident with Sofia. However he did write out a number of tests for Callie to ascertain if she was physically fit to carry another child. Just to be sure, he had added. But an interesting development during their interview with the doctor was that Arizona learnt about Callie's desire for a mini-Arizona. "You know, I want a little blonde haired, blue eyed, boy or girl, with your dimples" she had clung onto Arizona's hands waiting for her answer.
Dr Frazer guessed that the two women had not discussed it earlier. "Well you are both aware that the Callie's Latina genes are dominant so any IVF procedure using Callie's eggs would not have the traits you desire. And using your eggs Arizona would just be an added step to the simple procedure. No great hassle. We will keep both your ovulating periods under supervision and take your eggs when you're ovulating." Arizona took a moment to consider it all. "Well" she looked at Callie's large dove-eyes and finally nodded her head. "Yeah, yeah we could do that, if that's what you want. Personally, I would just love another tiny Torres, but if you want a mini-me, I think I can do that for you. But no questions on who's carrying the baby okay! Me and pregnancy hormones just don't gel" she stated with such finality that both Callie and Dr Frazer laughed. Callie gave her a quick kiss and whispered "Thank You" before the duo turned back their attention to Dr Frazer.
"So you will also need a Caucasian sperm donor" Frazer stated. "Do you have any one in mind?" he looked at the two women. Arizona held back her words. Mark Sloan may have great genes, and he might be a great father to Sofia, but she definitely didn't want Mark to be a part of their second baby's life as well. But she hadn't spoken to Callie about it and part of her was still debating if she wanted Sofia to have some sort of blood tie to her sibling. Callie solved the problem for her. "No we don't. Like I said earlier, my first pregnancy was not planned. But on this one, we would like to go through all the list of possible sperm donors and select the one that suits us the best." She tilted her head slightly towards Arizona waiting for her approval; she was answered with a kiss and a whispered "Thank You."
To say that Teddy was feeling awkward sitting at the table, would be an understatement. There was Ginny's dad, who had not just decided to check out the hospital where his daughter worked but also the kind of people she worked with. Usually Alex never sat with them, but today he had no chance to sit anywhere else but where Fontane demanded him to. And so while he praised Nate, whom he had heard about before, he made sure to simultaneously undermine Alex, whom, he made very clear he did not like at all. Teddy looked at Mark who was biting his apple with a less than amused expression while Nate squirmed in his chair under the added attention. Callie hadn't looked up from her plate of salad even once and only Arizona and she kept exchanging worried glances with one another. Finally Ginny arrived with her tray of food and sat down beside her father.
"The least you could have done Karev was get her food for her" he quipped. Alex looked like he was about to explode but he answered with controlled calmness "I should have. But your daughter hates being treated as an invalid." Before the older Fontane could say anything, Ginny began talking about the jello and how it reminded her of her school in Prague. While father and daughter reminisced about old times, Teddy swore she saw Alex bend his fork by glaring at it.
"So when are you taking a maternity leave and coming home?" he asked conversationally as he sipped his black coffee.
"Home?" Alex looked up from his plate. "Why would she be going anywhere? This is where she lives, this is where I live, and this is where our baby will be born" Alex stated emphatically. He had heard enough from Ginny today to know that if he didn't interfere, she might just comply with him and fly out to some European nation and he would not get the chance of seeing his child's birth.
"And what exactly can you provide her with?" Orlando asked mockingly. "I can make sure that my daughter gets the best care available in the world. Which you obviously can't manage. You don't even own a house. You live in my daughter's house. You are a junior doctor. You earn less than my daughter does. And this lifestyle that you both are enjoying right now is all thanks to her trust fund that I built for her. My hardwork!" he puffed out his chest and pointing an accusatory finger at him he continued "While you, you have no money, no family, no lineage. I know everything about you Karev. You are just a …"
"Enough Daddy" Ginny's voice was eerily calm. Arizona lifted her head up in surprise. Nate choked on his glass of water. Teddy patted him on his back even as Mark smirked at the scene unfolding before him.
Orlando turned towards his daughter with a surprised look on his face. "Ginevra are you aware of this man's history? He has a schizophrenic brother and a history of violence. How can you trust such a man? A man who hasn't even…"
"I said enough, Daddy" Ginny said looking him straight in the eye. "You are talking about the man who's my child's father, about the man I love. I expect you to talk about him with a little more respect. You want to know what kind of a man he is? Well he may not be a man out to save the world, walking down the power corridors, making decisions that alter the lives of millions of people. But he's the kind of man, who saves lives of little children and keeps families from breaking apart. He's the kind of man, who stays up night after night, sacrificing his sleep and rest and hunger, just to make sure that a new-born makes it through its first night. And I know that he will be the kind of father who would be there for his child no matter what. Whether it's football matches or dance recitals or graduation ceremony, my child will have not have to be disappointed that her father didn't make it. Because I know Alex is an honourable man, and that's the only kind of worthy men in the world. Isn't that what you taught me?" With those final words, she let her tears flow freely, before she rose from her chair and exited the cafeteria as fast as she could.
The table was plunged in silence, before Alex pushed back his chair and stood up. "I'm going home" he told Arizona who simply waved him off. With one last look at Orlando Fontane Alex headed out of the cafeteria.
Orlando Fontane stood shifting from one foot to another as he stood outside his daughter's apartment. Ginevra had never spoken to him like that. He was a proud man and he didn't take kindly to being spoken rudely, much less before an audience. But he was smart enough, for he knew that if he didn't apologize to his daughter, he may lose her for ever. So he drew in a deep breath and rang the doorbell. He waited patiently. After a couple of minutes the door was opened by Alex Karev.
"I wish to see my daughter" he stated with no preamble.
"She's sleeping now" the younger man answered calmly.
"I want to see my daughter" Orlando said, this time a little more forcefully.
Alex looked at the man for a second before answering. "Mr Fontane I'm not deliberately keeping you from meeting your daughter. Ginny has been up on her feet since morning. And she has only just cried herself to sleep. I don't wish to wake her up. She needs her rest. I know she loves you and that whatever your feelings towards me, you wish the best for her, and so I would never keep you two apart. I know the importance of family." He saw the usual poker face of the older man, softening and his lips parted and closed like he was trying to form some sort of coherent sentence.
"So how about we meet for breakfast tomorrow? And after, we'll drive you to the airport so that you can catch your flight?" Alex offered a simple solution to the man. He saw the tiniest of smiles tug at the corner of the older man's mouth.
"That sounds like an excellent plan" he said, before holding out his right hand. "Thank You" he said shaking Alex's hands. "Take care of my girl" and with that he turned on his heels and began walking down the stairs. Alex smiled at the retreating form before shutting the door softly.
Meeting the father, round two, didn't sound like a very bad plan!
Yeah, I know a little low on Calzona, but next chapter is about their anniversary celebrations! By my calculations, its roughly 3 months after Sofia's birth or atleast that's the calculation I'm going by.
As always I love to hear what you think about the chapter. I'm a big girl, and I won't be bullied around. So if you have something to say about the fic- good, bad or ugly- I suggest you log in or at least state your name. I won't ever delete any one's comments. Everyone has the right to say what they feel. Just like I have a right to write what I want.
Sorry for my ranting, no love lost, yet- G :)