A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Onwards we go.

Two weeks later and not only was Arizona now walking and preparing for the biggest surgery of her life, but she was also preparing herself for the arrival of the Torres family that evening. After much preparation and a stroke of luck, a heart had been found for the transplant Suffolk Punch patient and although she had only been back in the OR for the first time the day before, Arizona wouldn't be anywhere else. Callie was on edge with the imminent arrival of her parents and sister, specifically her Mother; she'd even taken the afternoon off so that she could clean the house and prepare the food that she was planning on cooking for dinner. Arizona had been victim to Callie's mood swings over the past couple of days, letting her girlfriend take out her stress on her, but today, Arizona was stressed herself, the impending heart transplant surgery one of the biggest moments in her career.

'So, I'm thinking we're going to have to ask someone to take the dogs...Mark...or Teddy...Liam maybe?' Callie asked as they were walking out the door. Now that Arizona was back at work properly, they had to go to work in their own trucks, but they would always leave together when starting at the same time.

'And why do the dogs have to be turfed out?' Arizona asked, locking the door.

'Mama doesn't like dogs.' Callie said.

Arizona rolled her eyes, 'Look Cal, I thought this wasn't meant to be about bending over backwards to please her? I thought it was meant to be about her accepting us for who we are?'

Callie couldn't help but get frustrated at the sight of Arizona's eyes rolling, 'It would just make it easier.'

'Well maybe I shouldn't come either, you know...' Arizona flung open the door to her truck. 'Make it easier.'

It was Callie's turn to roll her eyes, 'Arizona, don't be ridiculous.'

Arizona climbed into her truck with her dogs, rolling down the window, 'I'll see you later, you know after my big groundbreaking surgery is done with.'

Callie moved forwards, 'Look I'm sorry Arizona but I just want to make things right between me and her.'

Arizona sighed, 'I know...but do you want her to meet the Arizona you fell in love with, or do you want me to completely change for her? Your choice Calliope.' Arizona rolled up her window and reversed out of her drive, feeling guilty but at the same time knowing that she had to stay true to herself, she knew that Callie didn't want her to change, she just needed to remember it.

As Callie watched Arizona drive off she sighed, 'Shit.' She mentally kicked herself, she'd totally forgotten about Arizona's surgery, so caught up in her family's arrival that evening; it was such a big day for her girlfriend and she'd completely forgotten. Running back into the house, Callie picked up the phone and dialled, hoping that she could at least lesson the anger she had caused Arizona.

XX

Arizona sighed heavily as she pulled up in the car lot, she hated fighting with Callie, but she couldn't pretend to be anyone other than who she was. Climbing out of the truck she made her way into the yard, it was a crisp morning, the cold seeping in through her jacket.

'Mornin' boss.' Came Karev's voice.

'Karev, all set?'

'The heart will be here in four hours, Teddy said she'd be over when she'd finished consults.'

'Great.' Arizona replied curtly.

'You alright boss?'

'Fine.' Arizona replied, 'I'm gonna check on Willow.'

Alex watched her go with a frown, he could tell something was off, but he knew better than to press the blonde for too much information.

'Hey there buddy.' Arizona greeted Willow as she entered the stable, pleased to see that he was now standing a lot more comfortably than he had been only days previously. Arizona took the time to re-bandage and hose his legs whilst also brushing him from head to toe; she'd always found brushing a horse one of the most soothing of activities. She'd been in with Willow for almost an hour when she heard her name being called across the yard. Giving willow a pat and a kiss on his muzzle she let herself out of the stable and saw Karev was calling her. 'What's up?'

'You got a delivery.' Alex said with a smirk.

Looking behind Alex, Arizona saw a man carrying a massive bunch of flowers. 'Arizona Robbins?'

'Yeah, that's me.' Arizona said, signing on the electronic pad she accepted the bunch searching for the card. Finding it she couldn't help but smile as she read the words printed there, 'I'm an idiot, I'm sorry, good luck in your surgery, I know you'll be amazing. Love you. Xxx' 'Karev is the Suffolk ready yet?'

'No boss, won't be putting it under for another hour or so.'

'Good, if you need me just ring me, I'll be the main building.'

Giving a knowing nod and wink, Alex laughed as he turned and went back to his business, Arizona put the flowers in her office before running into the main building, knowing that Callie would be in consults Arizona wove her way through the main corridor until she was stood outside Callie's consult room, looking through the small window she saw, thankfully, that Callie was alone, typing furiously, her eyes locked firmly on the screen. Opening the door, Arizona stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind her.

'Sorry, I'm still writing notes on my last appointment, can you hang on five minutes?' Callie asked, not knowing who had entered the room and so presumed it was her next patient.

'I can wait.' Arizona said, smiling gently.

Callie's head whipped round as she recognised the voice, 'Hey, sorry, I didn't know it was you, I thought you'd be in surgery by now?'

Arizona moved forwards, 'I've got ten minutes...I wanted to come and say thank you.' Kissing Callie tentatively on the lips, 'So, thank you.'

'I'm sorry.' Callie said, opening her legs so that Arizona could stand closer. 'I was so wrapped up in my parents that I totally forgot about what today meant for you...I'm sorry.'

Arizona smiled, 'I know, I'm sorry I flew off this morning, I'm just worried about this surgery, but I shouldn't have took it out on you.' Arizona leant forwards and kissed Callie once more, 'The flowers were beautiful.'

'I'm glad you like them.' Callie replied, 'If my consults don't run over, I'll come over and see how the surgery's going?'

'That would be wonderful.' Arizona replied honestly. 'I have to go but I'll see you later, if I don't get chance to actually talk to you in the surgery, I'll see you later at home ok?'

'Ok.' Callie replied, pulling Arizona in for a kiss before she turned to leave. 'Zo?'

'Yeah?' Arizona said, turning around.

'The dogs don't have to go anywhere.' Callie said with a smile, 'And I want Mama to meet you not some fake you.'

Nodding, Arizona replied, 'I love you.'

'Love you too.' Callie replied, watching as Arizona went, glad that the argument had been extremely short-lived.

Arizona made her way back to the yard feeling a lot better about the surgery now that her and Callie had ironed out the creases. She made her way through to the main OR prep room, pleased to see that Teddy was in there looking over the Suffolk's latest scans and x-rays. 'Hey.' Arizona announced her presence as she shut the door behind her.

Teddy looked round, 'Alright.'

Moving so she could see the light-box, Arizona stood back with Teddy, arms folded as she took in the new images. 'It's a good job this op is today.'

Teddy nodded, 'I know, the regurge is just horrific...just got to wait for the heart now.'

'How long?' Arizona asked.

'We've just had the call that they're two hours out.' Teddy replied, 'I just wanted to have a good look over his scans before we put him under.'

Arizona nodded, taking in every detail of the scans that she could, 'Thank you Teds.'

Teddy's brow furrowed, 'What for?'

'For letting me in on this case.' Arizona replied, 'I thought that with me being away for so long...I thought I wouldn't get back on the horse, excuse the pun, so easily.'

Teddy chuckled gently, 'A shit thing happened to you Arizona, doesn't take away from the fact that you're one of the most talented surgeons I've worked with.'

Arizona blushed, 'Thanks Teds, the feeling's mutual.'

Teddy smiled, nudging Arizona with her elbow, 'Right enough of this sentimental crap, let's give this horse a new heart.'

Arizona laughed as they made their way through to the pre-op stable; after taking the Suffolk's vitals they readied themselves for the surgery, knocking the horse out before winching it onto the OR table, Teddy directing proceedings as she got Karev to shave the relative area she needed to cut through. It took an hour to get everything positioned correctly; a 20 hand Suffolk Punch not an easy thing to move around.

'Everyone ready?' Teddy asked, scalpel in hand. All heads around the room nodded, Arizona's included. Nodding herself, Teddy pressed the scalpel into the horses' chest and made the first cut.

XX

Callie looked at the clock after her last consult, she smiled as she saw that she'd be able to catch at least half an hour of Arizona's surgery before having to leave for home to get things ready. The surgery would have been going for over an hour already, but Callie knew that it would be a lengthy procedure. Locking up her room, she strolled over to the yard, putting Jasper in Arizona's office with Harry and Dotz, she made her way into the OR gallery. Her face broke out in a huge smile as she walked in at just the point that Arizona and Teddy were lifting the heart from the transplant box. The fact that it was an 8 lb horse heart made the sight even more impressive.

Leaning against the wall to her side, Callie crossed her arms across her chest as she watched the magic happen. The viewing room was packed, the surgery was being recorded for future reference and to be the feature on the ten o'clock news hour. As Callie watched Arizona work, her brow furrowed as they worked to get the heart in place, she felt immense pride ooze out of her as she watched her girlfriend work. To think that barely two months ago she had been 'burying' Arizona, and now here she was performing a never-before-done surgery, more in love with her than ever.

Arizona concentrated hard on the heart in her hand, she had held horses hearts before, but never one that had the potential to save a life, usually they were cold and long dead in the autopsy rooms at vet school. As she stood back to allow Teddy to get a full view her eyes glanced up, stopping as soon as her eyes met with chocolate brown orbs, Arizona noticed the difference in the way Callie was looking at her; she could see the pride and love radiating off of her girlfriend and all she wanted to do was throw off her scrubs and take Callie in her arms, but that would have to wait. Giving Callie a super-magic smile, knowing that despite the mask Callie would see it, she found it returned as Callie pointed at her watched and then blew her a kiss. Looking at the clock on the wall Arizona realised that Callie had come in to watch her surgery and now was running late to get everything in order for her family's arrival. That fact meant a lot to Arizona and as she watched her go, she couldn't help but feel a pang that she wasn't going with her; she had never expected to love anything more than her job and surgery, but now she loved Callie more than all of it and if she ever had to make a choice, she knew that Calliope Torres would win every single time.

Arizona suctioned away, peering into the body cavity as Teddy's hands worked furiously, 'Right, that's it.' She said, suddenly stepping back, 'Bring him off bypass slowly...' All eyes watched intently as they waited for the heart to beat, 'Come on...come on...' Teddy chanted. Arizona shuffled from one foot to the other, anxious for this to work, not because so many eyes were watching, but because she wanted this horse to live.

A hefty sigh of relief was had by all as the familiar ba-dum rhythm filled the room. Nodding with relief, both Arizona and Teddy returned to the task at hand as they closed up the muscle layers and skin before leaving Karev and Lexie in charge of bringing the Suffolk around. 'We'll be back in about half an hour to check on him.' Teddy told Alex and Lexie. Leaving the main room, Teddy and Arizona were left alone in the scrub room, teddy leaning heavily against the sink.

'You alright?' Arizona asked.

'Yeah...I just really thought for a split second that that wasn't going to work.' Teddy admitted, turning and meeting Arizona's eye as she removed her mask and gown. 'Doing hearts on horses is always more stressful than anything else...they're just so freaking big.'

Arizona laughed, 'Yeah they are a bit bigger than the rest of the cliental aren't they?'

Teddy groaned, 'I seriously don't know why you picked this speciality.'

'Well I always loved a good roll in the hay.' Arizona said, lightening the situation.

Teddy joined in with Arizona's laughter, glad that she had made a friend in the blonde both inside and out of the OR. 'How you feeling about later?'

Arizona sighed, 'Honestly, I've heard it all before, I've had the gay bashing, I've had the verbal abuse...even the physical once in a while...but Callie? I mean she's been shunned by her parents, but I get the feeling the addition of me there might make things worse with her Mom...I think it'll make her more defensive and more aggressive?'

Teddy nodded, 'Unfortunately there's only one way you'll find out...At least you know that Carlos is on your side.'

Arizona nodded, 'Yeah, very true, and that's not something I ever thought I'd be able to say when I first met him...Let's go check on the patient.'

XX

Callie looked at the clock once more, her parents were due to arrive any second, her Dad's driver dropping them off, Arizona would be home about an hour afterwards which in a way, Callie was thankful for; it would give her time to calm the situation down so that Arizona didn't have to bear the full brunt of it. 'Right...you three need to be on your best behaviour.' Callie said at the three faces that peered up at her, having picked up Arizona's dogs and her own so they didn't have to be cooped up in the office all afternoon. Arizona had gotten Liam to do Gem for her once more, so that she would be home as soon as she could. Giving the house another look around, Callie couldn't help but smile at the fact she now lived here with Arizona; gradually she'd been able to sneak her influence in on the place, particularly in the kitchen as Arizona had had a severe lack of pots and pans.

The dogs beginning to bark alerted Callie to the fact that her parents and sister were here before the doorbell had even rung. Calling them back into the kitchen, so they didn't cause too much offense, she opened the door, putting on a smile as she watched the three Torres' climb out of the car.

'Breathe Calliope Torres...it'll be over before you know it.'

A/N: The Torres whirlwind will hit next chapter!