No Matter of Chance

By AmboDriver

Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own anything. I'm just playing around with these "If/Then" alternative versions of characters that I adore. They are owned by Shondaland, ABC, and probably a lot of other really rich folks.

A/N: Okay, first off, sorry for the delay. I've been in crazy move mode the last 2 weeks, but now I'm finally into my new place (which is amazing!) and just facing a bajillion boxes to unpack. But no time pressure on those. Now if only I can keep power when this huge storm hits tonight/tomorrow (knock on wood). Hopefully if we lose power around here it won't be out for too long, but it might mean a little delay in the next chapter or for my other story. Damned mother nature!

Glad you guys are still hanging on (just one more chapter before sexy time ). And to those wondering, sorry, there won't be a sequel. There's just no real story to tell with these slightly alternate reality versions that I can't tell with the real Callie and Arizona. Once they're together, they lose their interest as characters for me. Besides I have a season 9 story and then another story I am working on without posting. That'll keep me busy for a while.

And now for some seriously awkward family time! Oh and I don't know jack about Cuban food, so blame Wikipedia if I got anything wrong, okay?

Chapter 37

Callie looked over at Owen and rolled her eyes as they walked into the dining room at the Archfield. Callie could barely believe her parents were doing this and even less so that they were going to have this conversation in public. Not that she cared and Owen had assured her that he was on her side on the way over so she was reasonably sure he could care less too. As they approached the table, she whispered to him, "I'm going to owe you big on this one."

He just chuckled quietly as a smile that only years of marriage told Callie was forced came to his lips. "Carlos, Lucia, it's good to see you." He went over and gave his soon to be ex-mother-in-law a kiss on the cheek before shaking Carlos' hand.

"Oh, Owen, I'm so glad you could join us today. We do really need to talk about all this," Lucia said as she resumed her seat.

Owen pulled Callie's chair out for her and as Callie sat she raised her eyebrow at him. Don't encourage them, she wished she could tell him. The gallantry had brought a big smile to her mother's face. "Can we order before we get into the begging and pleading?"

Carlos' voice was full of reproach. "There won't be begging and pleading, Calliope. We just want to talk to the two of you."

"Sure," Callie said as she waved toward the waiter. "I'll have a gin and tonic," she told him, knowing she'd likely need the liquid courage before long. She then turned her head toward the menu and tried her best to ignore the pleasantries going on around her.

Before long they had placed their orders and were left to just all look around at one another. Finally, Callie couldn't take it any longer. "Okay, go for it," she said as she looked from one parent to another.

Lucia let out a quiet sigh. "We just don't understand why you two are getting a divorce. You made vows before God to love and cherish one another for a lifetime. Five years is not a lifetime."

Callie sighed quietly but then could barely contain a smile when she felt Owen's hand squeeze her knee, as he had so often done when they'd go visit her family and they would begin to wear on her last nerve. "Lucia, Carlos, I'm sorry, but we just are no longer in love with one another. We made this decision to get a divorce and since then we've both met wonderful people who we're working on building new loving relationships with. I'm happy for Callie and Arizona and I think she's happy for me and Cristina."

"I am," Callie quickly added as she gave him the slightest of smiles.

Carlos shook his head sadly. "How can you be okay with this, Owen? What kind of man can lose his wife to a woman?" There was a thin layer of disgust in his words.

"A man who loves his soon to be ex-wife as a dear friend. Look, I know you two can't approve of Callie's relationship, although I hope someday you do so that our kids can truly have their grandparents in their lives, but I'm not you. Callie is my friend and I want her to be happy. I want that for our kids, too. If she's in a happy and loving relationship, and I know she is, then they'll get all the love they need."

Lucia shook her head vehemently. "Are you going to allow that woman to be around your kids? What will that teach them?"

Callie reached out and put her hand over her mother's to stop her. "It'll teach them about love, Mom. I love Arizona. I really do. And she loves me. One of the most important things a child can learn from their parents is the beauty and power of love. I learned that from you two."

"Not well enough," Lucia cut in as she pulled her hand away from Callie.

"No, I learned it well," Callie countered. "I wanted to find that with Owen, I really did. But we just weren't meant to be. Would you rather we live in a loveless marriage for the rest of our lives? Would you rather your own daughter be miserable?"

Lucia's eyes softened as she shook her head. "No, but I also don't want you to spend eternity paying the price for this. Calliope, I do want you to be happy and find true love. Of course that's what I want. But I also want you to be right with God. You can't do that with her."

"Can you just let me worry about God, Mom?" Callie took a sip of her drink and enjoyed the feel of the warm burn in her throat. "Please, just get to know her. Just see us together. Give her a chance."

Owen nodded. "I think you both would like Arizona a lot. She's great."

Carlos seemed to deflate just a little as he turned to his wife. "She did write us that nice letter, Lucia. Maybe we should at least meet her. I'm not saying we have to accept her into our family, but what else are we going to do?"

Just then Owen's beeper went off. After he glanced down at it, he sighed and placed his napkin on the table. "I'm sorry, but I have to get back to work. It was nice seeing you both. I assume you'll be coming to the twins' birthday party again this year?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Carlos replied.

"Good then I will see you there." She leaned down to Callie and whispered in her ear, "Stay strong. Your father might be coming around a little." He then kissed her on the cheek and left.

Callie watched him leave the dining room before turning back to her parents. "So, will you meet her? Please? We could have dinner tonight. She's off work at 5."

Lucia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I suppose," she said as she opened them to look sadly at her daughter. "But don't expect us to welcome her with open arms. That will never happen."

Callie swallowed hard as she watched the resolve settle into her mother's eyes. When she looked over at her father, there was more understanding there and an empathy that touched her. "Just please be civil and have an open mind about her, okay? That's all I can ask. Now, I'll be right back. I want to see if she's free for dinner."

She rose and walked out into the lobby. When she got there she quickly pulled out her phone and called her girlfriend.

"Dr. Arizona Robbins," Arizona answered after the second ring.

Callie smiled at the sound of her voice and the determined professionalism of her voice. "Hi beautiful."

"Calliope," Arizona answered and the smile was evident in her voice. "Hello back, my gorgeous girlfriend. So, um, how's lunch?"

Callie let out a deep sigh. "Well, my mother has pretty much condemned me to Hell. Owen got saved by a page. And my father, well, there's maybe just a hint of hope there, but who knows. It's better than when he disowned me. And speaking of food with my parents, I convinced them to meet you. Please don't hate me for subjecting you to that. But can we all get together for dinner tonight?"

There was the sound of a deep breath on the other end and then a long pause. "I've actually never met a serious girlfriend's parents before. Sandy's were both dead by then. Um, are you sure they can handle meeting the evil lesbian who is corrupting their daughter?"

Callie had to laugh at the thought of Arizona being anything other than sweet and nice. It was probably possible, but very unlikely. "I'm more worried if you can handle my homophobic parents."

"Bah," Arizona answered back dismissively. "Parents are my thing. I deal with parents all the time. I'm up for it. I mean, really, how bad can it be?"

Callie rolled her eyes. "Do you want the serious answer to that?" She laughed quietly and then looked back through the glass doors of the dining room to where her parents were sitting. "Look, I should get back. I'll give you a call later to set up the details. Ok?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"Oh, and Arizona?"

"Yeah?"

Callie couldn't help the humongous smile that spread across her lips. "I love you."

Again the smile came through in Arizona's voice as she answered, "I love you, too."

With a quiet and contented sigh, Callie hung up her phone and then sobered as her eyes once again fell on her parents. She groaned as she placed the phone back in her purse. "It's only one day, right? I can get through a day with them. And dinner with them and my girlfriend. Right?" As she pushed the door open to return to the dining room she had the incredible feeling that she was entering some sort of arena where she would be fighting for her life. Who am I kidding? This is just going to suck.

Arizona continued setting the table as she looked over at where Callie was frantically cooking in the kitchen. Callie had been at it all afternoon, ever since she left her parents at the hotel and made a mad dash to Whole Foods before starting to cook a crazy array of Cuba specialties that she now kept worrying her mother wouldn't like. "You don't get it, Arizona, she's a career woman but she's also very much into a woman doing all those things that June Cleaver did. And she's incredibly good at it. Me, not so much."

Arizona placed the last fork down and walked over to stand behind Callie, wrapping her arms around her waist and laying her head on her shoulder. "It'll be fine, amazing even. I know you're nervous." She reached out and placed her fingers around Callie's wrist, feeling her pulse rapidly pounding. "You need to calm down. I know you love them, but you've already said that if they can't accept you, you'll get by. I know that hurts you, but look at it this way. They're coming to dinner to meet your girlfriend. That's a big step. It might take time and they might never come around fully, but that's progress."

"I know," Callie said as she leaned back into Arizona's body. "And you're right. If they can't accept the fact that I've fallen in love with a woman, then they don't unconditionally love me." She turned and kissed Arizona. "I'm not giving up on you for them, no matter what happens tonight."

Arizona leaned forward to press her forehead against Callie's. "I love you," she whispered. "We'll get through tonight together, okay?"

"Okay," Callie whispered.

The doorbell rang and Callie stood up straight. "Well, here goes nothing I guess," she said as she took a deep breath. She wiped her hands on a towel and gave Arizona a final smile before heading out of the living area to answer the door.

Arizona took a deep breath of her own, trying to still her pounding heart. She felt like a teenager going over to face her girlfriend's father for the first time. "Just relax, Arizona," she told herself.

Then Callie walked in with her parents. Arizona put a smile on her face and walked over to the trio. She waited for Callie to lead the introductions, knowing her girlfriend needed to be as in control of the evening as possible.

"So, Mom, Dad, this is Arizona."

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Torres," Arizona said as she offered her hand first to Callie's father and then her mother.

"It's nice to meet you, Dr. Robbins," Carlos said.

"Yes, nice to meet you," Lucia echoed, her voice sounding tight.

Callie looked at Arizona and slightly rolled her eyes before she motioned toward the table. "So, Mom and Dad, I made us some boliche and some paella using Abuela's recipe of course."

"Of course," Lucia answered as she sat in the seat Callie indicated. "Yes, I'm sure it will all be delicious. If there's one thing you managed to learn, it's cooking. What about you, Dr. Robbins? Do you cook?"

Arizona laughed loudly before she could stop herself. She went into the kitchen area to help Callie bring out the food as she answered, "Not in the least. I almost burned ramen noodles in college. I haven't tried to cook since then."

"Ah, well then I guess that makes sense," Lucia said quietly, more to herself than anyone else, and Arizona just lifted an eyebrow in Callie's direction. Her girlfriend shook her head slightly while rolling her eyes.

"Dad," Callie said as she put the platter she was carrying down in the middle of the table, "Arizona was at one of your resorts. Which one was it?"

"Cancun. It was a package deal sort of thing." She didn't want to bring up that it was sponsored by a lesbian tourist group. "It was lovely. Really quite amazing."

"Why, thank you. I'm very lucky to have found some nice properties to develop." Carlos paused for a moment as Callie and Arizona sat and then held his hands out to his wife and daughter. "Let's say grace."

Arizona awkwardly held Lucia's hand but smiled when Callie took her other and squeezed it gently. They shared a quick look before they both dropped their head and Carlos offered a brief prayer of thanksgiving for family, friends, and good food. Arizona usually wasn't one for praying but she tried to appear respectful because she knew Callie's family was quite devout. When the rounds of amen were said, Arizona picked up the bowl of rice and offered it to Callie's mother. "Please, you start."

Dinner continued in long stretches of awkward silence followed by small fits of small talk—Arizona telling them about her specialty, the places she'd lived, the schools she studied at. It all felt a bit like Callie's parents were going down a laundry list of qualifications, and really Arizona wasn't surprised. She knew the email she had sent her father had certainly made it clear that she and Callie were pretty serious about each other. And Callie had told her earlier that she had also made sure her parents were aware this wasn't just some quick fling. It was very important, after all, that her parents not think they could easily dissuade their daughter from dating a woman, or Arizona was sure they would never hear the end of it. And she imagined that no one could withstand the disapproval of their parents for long without some damage coming to their relationship. Besides, Arizona really just wanted Callie to have a family that accepted this new facet of their daughter's life. Everyone deserved that, but especially the woman she loved.

When they were done and Lucia offered to help Callie with the dishes, Carlos cleared his throat and looked at Arizona. "Can we maybe go out on the porch and talk?"

Callie shot a look over at Arizona like she was afraid for her girlfriend's safety, but Arizona knew she couldn't turn down the invitation. "Sure."

The two of them went out onto the porch. Arizona's first instinct was to sit down in one of the rocking chairs, but she didn't want Callie's father to be over her in any way. It was bad enough he was almost half a foot taller than her to begin with, she didn't want to give him any more advantage. "So," she said when the silence became uncomfortable, "how long are you and your wife in town for?"

Carlos shrugged. "We didn't really set a return date. We figured we'd stay as long as it took to talk Callie out of this choice of hers." His eyes fell then. "I'm not so sure that's going to happen."

Arizona bit at her lip to keep from smiling. "No, probably not. I'm probably being selfish, but I certainly hope not."

Carlos nodded slightly. "You love her, don't you?"

"Very much so," Arizona answered without hesitation.

"I could tell from your email. That was a pretty impassioned bit of writing." He looked her in the eye. "Not many people suggest I need to make changes in my life and get away with it."

Arizona's heart rate rose at the implied threat but then he smiled and she relaxed. "Look, I can't tell you or your wife how to be Callie's parents, but I just know that it's really hurting her that you can't seem to understand that she's doing what she feels is right. She just wants your unconditional love and support, that's all. That's all that any child wants."

Carlos nodded and looked off into space thoughtfully for a few moments. "I lost my parents when I was pretty young, so maybe I sometimes have a hard time understanding how a grown child relates to a parent. It's something I never got to experience from the child end. But you are right. We do need to love her unconditionally."

"She doesn't expect you to ride in a pride parade or anything. I think she just wants you to understand that she's living the best life she can, and part of that is finding someone to share her life with. I want to be that person."

He grunted quietly before turning to look out into the night. "You seem like a very nice person, Dr. Robbins. And I'm sure you're a great doctor. You just have to understand, I don't want my little girl to get hurt."

Arizona turned to face in the same direction and looked over at him. "I get that. My parents were the same way when I came out to them. It's a scary world out there and there are a lot of people who are full of hate. It's not always easy being gay, that's for sure. But my father taught me to fight for what I believe in. He called it being a good man in a storm. And I believe in Calliope. I believe in this relationship we're building. And I promise you, I'll fight to protect her as much as I can. And I won't ever intentionally hurt her. I really promise that."

"Okay," Carlos answered then. "I'm not sure I can give my blessing just yet, but I'm going to do my best to come to terms with this and support her relationship with you. But if you ever hurt my little girl…"

"I won't. Really, I won't."

"Good." He started to walk back toward the front door. "Are you coming?"

"I'll be in in a moment," she replied with a smile as she watched him nod and walk back into the house. Only once the door closed did she let out a huge sigh and collapse into one of the rocking chairs. "Well, I'm still alive. I guess that's something," she muttered to herself as she let her heart start to calm down.

The front door opened then and Callie walked out. She laughed quietly as she came over to sit on the arm of the rocking chair that Arizona was in. "My father swore he didn't kill you, but I had to come out and check for myself."

Arizona laughed as she leaned into Callie's hip. "He's not so bad."

"You should tell that to the string of boyfriends I had in high school and college. I think he scared a few of them so bad they left the state." Callie laughed but then quickly got serious. "So?"

Arizona shrugged. "Well, I tend to think I won't be invited to family reunions just yet, but he said he'd try to be supportive of you, of us."

"Really?" Callie looked down at her with a totally disbelieving look on her face.

"Like I said, he's not so bad."

Callie nodded and then rolled her eyes. "Wish the same could be said about my mother. She just spent the last ten minutes trying to convince me to give men another shot. She just doesn't get that I love you and that's not going to change."

"Well, I for one am glad to hear that. And you probably just have to give her some time. This is all still so new. And you said that you're closer to your dad, so it's pretty natural that he'd be supportive first." She placed a gently hand on Callie's thigh. "Now, what do you say we go have dessert so they can leave? Then we can spend some time just cuddling or whatever. Because, really, right now, I just want to hold you and sip wine and talk about nonsense for the rest of the evening."

Callie leaned down and gave Arizona a brief kiss. "That sounds perfect. Pie and coffee and then they're out of here. Come on."

TBC…