Disclaimer: All characters are property of ABC. No copyright infringement intended. I own nothing.
This is AU as well as G!P, I hope you enjoy the journey, so only constructive comments please. Some chapters will have perspectives from both Callie and Arizona but it'll mostly be one view or another.
A/N: HEY! Welcome back! Let's jump right back into the drama and chaos, shall we?
All typos are my fault so please excuse that. Also, internal thoughts/dialogue are in italics and flashbacks are bold italics. So, in the words of Shonda, trust the journey.
Chapter Thirty-Six: Oh Baby
Where we left off...
Dropping the bags just inside the door, I startle when my name is shouted down the hall. Seeing an extremely pale Barbara does nothing for my nerves–the tremor of my hand, the throbbing in my head and my erratic breathing are proof of that. But I ignore all of it.
"What happ...no, where's Arizona? Something's not right, I-I-I can feel it. Barbara, where's Arizona?!" She hasn't said anything and I'm openly freaking the fuck out in the middle of the hallway.
"They rushed her to surgery. The doctor said that the baby was fine but...but Arizona's in some trouble."
Callie POV
"WHAT?! When?! Why didn't I get a fucking call?!...I-I was barely gone 3-hours, Barbara." Clumsily snatching my phone from my pocket, a pale hand grabbing onto my wrist stops my before I can even unlock the screen and pulls my attention back up to a pair of scared pale green eyes.
"They literally just took her not even 10-minutes ago Callie and everything was happening so fast. She fine then she was in pain and bleeding. The next thing I know they're people rushing around the room then rolling her away. She-"
"I need to go." Cutting her off, I start moving down the hall. "I need to be with them. I never should have left in the first place." Why did I fucking leave?! I should've been here! "She needs to know that I'm here." I ramble off in one breath to the woman trailing behind me before coming to a stop at the closest nurse's desk. "Excuse me, I-"
"Callie!" For the second time in just a few minutes I'm startled by a familiar voice yelling my name. Turning around, it's no surprise to find our favorite nurse–Eli–striding toward me with a look of determination on his face. "Follow me. They're about to start the c-section and I need to get you prepped as fast as possible so you can get in there to hold her hand." I'm so damn overwhelmed as I look between Eli and my mother-in-law. My hands are trembling like I've never experienced before; I feel sweaty and I can hardly breathe but I have to keep it together for my family, so I focus everything I have on the situation in front of me. Giving me a silent nod of encouragement, Barbara moves to sit in a nearby chair as I start to walk past Eli, heading in the direction that he came from.
"Ok. Let's go." What the hell is happening right now?
Sitting here holding Arizona's hand, listening to all the movement of the medical staff and knowing that my love is being cut open is by far the most surreal experience I've ever had next to when I found out about Calen. I have so many questions that I want to ask Lucy right now but the fear in Arizona's eyes keep me focused on her. I'm sure she'll explain more when all this shit is over. Leaning down, pressing a lingering kiss to my fiancée's temple then whispering into her ear while actively ingnoring everything going on around us.
"I love you, I love our kids and this is just one more hurdle for us to get over...and we will. We got this...You...you got this." Baby, you got this.
"I love you too Calliope. I know you're scared right now but our baby boy is strong and healthy. I have no doubt that he'll be perfect." With a soft smile and a squeeze of my hand, she tries to give me as much comfort as she can at the moment. Yes, I'm worried that our son may be in some distress eventhough I've heard several times now that the baby is fine and I appreciate what she's trying to do. However, what she seems to be ignoring is that fact that she is the one that the doctors are rushing to help; that she is the one I'm deathly afraid to lose tonight. "We got this." Hearing her repeat my words back to me nearly shatters me.
"Arizona? Callie? The baby is almost out. So, get ready to properly introduce yourselves." Locking eyes with Arizona once more, I'm in awe of the gift that she's giving me for the second time. "You're doing great Arizona."
"You hear that Mariposa? He's almost here and you are so...so...amazing, baby." Kissing her temple again, tears of joy building behind my eyelids. "I can't wait to finally hold him and get the both of you home."
Resting forehead to forehead, we fall into a comfortable silence, holding hands tightly as we wait. I don't know how long it's been since Lucy's announcement but at the moment the only thing keeping me grounded is the woman I'm leaning on. I hate that I wasn't here when things got crazy but I'm more than happy that she wasn't alone and that I got here in time to be with her.
"He's out!"
I heard the words but they don't make much sense until I tune into the loud cries of a newborn. My newborn.
"Oh. My. God." I'm utterly speechless watching the nurse lay our boy on Arizona's chest and It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Hearing my name, turning toward to end of the bed with some difficulty, I do my best to give Lucy my full attention. "Yea?"
"I was trying to ask you if you wanted to cut the cord?" She asks while gesturing to the nurse standing to my right holding out a pair of scissors. Wordlessly nodding, I grab them while trying to steady my hand as best as I can then cut as instructed before giving them back to the nurse. Turning to watch Arizona kissing and cuddling our baby boy fills me with a feeling I don't know how to identify.
"He's here, Calliope." Displaying those dimples, her face is tear-stained and she's exuding pure happiness. "Hold him...hold your son." Taking a steadying breath then pulling him into my arms, I can't help but to study his features.
"Hey little man, I'm your other mom. I'm the one you had all those random conversations with. Do you remember the few times your big brother talked to you? He's not here right now but you two will be hanging out and causing trouble very soon. Mama and I love you both very very much. We're so damn-sorry don't say damn, that's a bad word but as I was saying we're so blessed to have the both of you in our lives. And you both are so incredibly lucky to have the best mama in the whole world. She-" Stopping as the noise in the room picks up then looking at Arizona, my heart that has yet to calm starts to race even more painfully. "Arizona?...Arizona?!"
"Callie! You need to go. Take the baby and follow the nurse so he can get his tests done." Lucy is focused on whatever she's doing as she's talking.
"But...what's going on Lucy?!"
"I can't get into it right now Callie. Just go take care of your son while I take care of your fiancée."
Before I can even think or form a reply, the baby and I are being ushered out of the room. What the fuck is going on now?
It's been a half hour since I was I kicked out of the operating room and I am officially losing my mind. Pacing outside of the nursery window with intermediate breaks to stare at our perfect little boy, knowing that our little guy is completely healthy–weighing in at seven pounds even, at an impressive 23-inches long–is the only thing keeping me from a total meltdown. Right now, I just want Arizona. As immature or childish as that may sound, it's how I feel and more importantly it's what our family needs. We aren't complete without her. Please...please don't die on us. I can't do this alone. I don't want to do this alone. We still have to get married and grow old together.
"Calle?" The hand on my shoulder along with the unexpected voice makes me jump out of my skin.
"Fuck! Eli?! Why would you sneak up on me like that?! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!" Resting a hand over my chest, I try to maintain my breathing as best as I while waiting for an explanation.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you but I've standing here trying to get your attention for a little while now so I can give you an update." Nodding my understanding, I wait for him to continue. "Now, I just finished updating yours and Arizona's family in the waiting room." I'm glad Barbara called the family but I'm definitely not in the mood to be around them. "As I told them, Arizona is still in surgery. She was hemorrhaging and that's why you had to leave. Dr. Fields is doing everything she can, so it shouldn't be too much longer."
"She's gonna be ok though, right? I mean Lucy knows what she's doing so...so she can fix this?...R-right?"
"Callie, I'm not going to lie to you, the situation is serious. However, Dr. Fields is one of the best and she'll do everything possible to get Arizona back to you."
His voice is calm but that wasn't the answer I was looking for. Staring at him hoping for him to give some kind of guarantee, I become hyper aware of the fact that I'm quickly losing control of my body. It's been 3-years since my last panic attack but the drumming in my chest, rapid breathing along with the growing dizziness, I know for a fact that that's exactly what's happening. I've been pushing through the signs of a pending attack since Barbara uttered the word 'surgery' but now I'm losing and fast.
"I c-can't...I...can't...b-breathe." The world around me has blurred into what looks like blobs of watercolor being overtaken by black. "I...can't..." Breathe.
"Cal." The unfamiliar voice sounds far away and muffled. Who is that? "Callie." That's not the same person. The second voice is different though just as muffled but definitely closer and very familiar. "Koalape, wake up baby girl." Leda. I'd know that voice anywhere. She must be scared, she only calls me baby girl when she's concerned. Why would Leda be worried?
"Ugh." My senses are gradually coming back to me causing me to become aware to the fact that I'm laying on a soft surface and that not only does my head ache in the worst way but I feel so damn drained. "Ugh."
"Come on open your eyes for us baby girl." Us? Us who? What happened?
Giving myself a little bit more time to fully come around, I can only listen to the sounds around me and it's the rhythmic beeping that brings all the events of the last two days to the forefront of my mind.
"Arizona! Where's Arizona and Santiago?!" Shouting and jolting forward into a sitting position does nothing for my headache but I ignore it while looking at the people standing around me–briefly realizing I revealed the babies name prematurely. Colton, Leda, Aria and Addison are staring at me with confused concerned eyes. "My fiancée and our son...where are they?" I ask again as I detach myself from all the monitors. I remember everything so I know I had a panic attack, meaning I also know why I'm not surprised that I've found myself in this position but I'm for damn sure am not staying in this room when I don't know where my family is. "Forget it. I'll find them myself."
"Wait, wait, wait. Callie, slow down." With a hand on my shoulder, Leda stops me as I swing my legs to the side of the bed. Pausing for a moment, I give a chance to speak. "The baby is doing great; he's up in the nursery." Nodding and releasing a sigh of relief, I wait to hear the rest. "Arizona made it through surgery. The doctor expects her to make a full recovery with no further complications. She's back in her room...Tim and their parents are with her." Taking a moment to silently thank every deity I can think of, I still can't bring myself to completely relax.
"How long was I out this time?"
"A little over an hour." Nodding my head as I comb my hand through my hair, standing from the bed I move to hug each of them.
"Sorry I scared you guys. I'm ok now." I say while heading toward the door. I'm going to need something for my headache. "I really need to go see Zona, so come on."
Without waiting, I start off down the hall knowing they'll follow me. It doesn't take us long to make our way through the hospital to the room we're looking for. When my eyes finally land on her, the relief of stress is instantaneous. I vaguely register someone telling me that she's going to be out for a while as I make myself comfortable in a chair beside her. Thankfully everyone soon leaves for the night with promises to check in tomorrow. As I sit here holding her hand I become even more aware of how tired I feel.
"I'm so glad that you're ok babe. This has been far more traumatizing than I ever thought child birth could be...I think we should just be happy with the two that we have for a while...a long, long while. So you just rest up and I'll be right here when you wake up." Bringing her hand up to my lips for a gentle kiss, I get comfortable and settle in for a long night.
See look, it's all working out. Til next time...