CHAPTER 51 – SCARE OF MY LIFE

ARIZONA'S POV

I love my job. I do. Seriously. But right about now I am wishing that I had become a kindergarten teacher or something. Why? Because I am fixing to board an airplane to fly to the other side of the freakin' continental US for a Ped's seminar. For 4 long days I have to be thousands of miles away from my now 6 month pregnant wife. So cursing my profession is at the top of my list. I tried, and failed miserably, to get out of this. From begging the chief of surgery to let me send Alex Karev in my place, to faking an illness. But every one of my attempts blew up in my face. Even though my wife has assured me multiple times that she will be fine, as well as my brother promising to check in on her daily I am still not satisfied. I simply do not want to leave my wife. Period.

Standing at security checkpoint, the furthest that my wife is allowed to walk me, I can't shake the sadness that I am feeling. I know that 4 days is nothing. That we have went what felt like longer without seeing each other due to our work schedules, but the fact is at some point we at least saw each other. Even if it was just in passing. The past two days since finding out about this bullshit seminar, I have been doing nothing but moping around. At work, at home, everywhere. And my wife has tried her hardest to cheer me up. I know she hates the idea of me leaving just as much as I do, but she is being a better sport than I am. And I'm not sure if I'm happier with the fact that she is taking this so well, or if I'm annoyed that she isn't as miserable as I am right now.

"Arizona. Look at me." Callie says lifting my chin to look her in the eyes. "You will be home before you know it babe. And we can use FaceTime on our phones every night. But please smile. I can't handle you leaving with that look on your face."

"I'm sorry Calliope. I just hate, hate, hate leaving you like this. If there was any way I could get out of this, you know I would have, right?"

"I know that. Believe me, I do. And I hate that you're leaving too. But the sooner you take your cute butt over there, learn some awesome stuff about babies, the sooner you will be bringing said butt back home to me."

I laugh a little and then finally nod in agreement. "I know, I know. You're right. And I promise to try and make the best of it. I just hope it goes by fast so I can get back. I'm going to miss you so much. Both of you" I say before leaning over and kissing my very pregnant wife on her stomach.

Pulling Callie into a hug, I inhale her unique scent and try to memorize it. And much too my dismay I hear them calling for my flight to begin boarding. "Ugh. I better get going babe. Don't want to miss my flight." I say. Obviously less than thrilled.

"Ok. And promise you will call me as soon as you land. I will have my phone with me all the time."

"I promise. And you take care of yourself. No long surgeries Calliope Robbins. Doctors Orders." I say. My wife knowing I am completely serious.

"I know. I promise Dr. Robbins."

With one more goodbye kiss, I turn away from my wife and make my way through security. Once I am seated on the plane, I send my wife a text before turning off my cell phone for the flight. And right before I hit the power button she sends a quick reply.

Front pocket of your carry on bag… love you – xoxo C

Smiling to myself, and turning my phone off to store away I pull my bag into my lap. In the front pocket, just like she said, I find a light green envelope with "My Angel" written on the front in my wife's beautiful handwriting. Feeling my mood already brighten, I place my bag in the overhead compartment, and buckle my seatbelt before opening the card. As soon as I opened to see what she had written inside, a small photo falls into my lap. Picking it up I see that it is a photo of Callie and I on top of the volcano in Hawaii. On the back she wrote, "Together we can achieve anything". Fighting back the tears, I stare at the photo for several minutes. Already missing my wife's beautiful face. Looking back at the card, I read the words on the front first.

The card was white, with little pink hearts all over it. And in beautiful black script it said:

When you love someone, it's something.

When someone loves you, it's another thing.

When you love the person who loves you back, it's everything.

On the inside there were 4 simple words.

Our Love, is Everything..

Taking up almost every inch of blank space is a note that is written in from my wife. And I take a deep breath and begin reading her message to me.

My Loving Wife Arizona,
Baby, I know that you hated to leave me almost as much as I hated to let you go. This is our first time being so apart from each other since you found me heart broken in that bar. I want you to know that I will be spending every moment you are gone missing you. Thinking of your ocean blue eyes, your smile that causes me to stop and catch my breath, and the incredible way you kiss me. Loving you is what I was meant to do forever. So with you away, I will have to force myself to be happy with my memories of you. I know this will probably be the longest 4 days of our lives, but the minute I have you back in my arms, I refuse to let you go anywhere without me again. Know that I am with you, in your heart, every minute of every day. As you are in mine. Hurry home. We love you endlessly.

Calliope & Baby

P.S. There's one more surprise for you in the bag. Hope you like it.

Once the seatbelt light was off, I quickly yanked my bag down once more. Opening my bag, and digging through it like mad, I feel a small cardboard envelope. Pulling it out it has my wife's handwriting on it as well, but this note says, "Mommy". My heart constricts just reading this, and upon opening it I find 3 sonogram pictures of our baby.

Callie and I had decided that we would not find out the sex of our baby. She insists it's a boy, and from day one I have insisted that it is a girl. And considering the fact that we are both doctors, Addison has managed to only print photos of the baby that leave out it's little 'baby parts'. And as hard as it is to turn away when our little baby is on display across the sono machine, we do in order to keep the element of surprise. So the photos that I am looking at are cute shots of our babie's face, or little feet and hands. By now a few tears have made their way down my face and I hold the pictures against my chest. Leaning my head back and falling asleep with thoughts of my wife and baby on my mind.

CALLIE'S POV

What am I supposed to do for 4 whole days with this big empty house? Of all the times that they could have scheduled this Ped's conference, they schedule it when I have two of the four days off. These first two days will go by quickly I hope, considering I have tons of work to catch up on in my department. Even if Arizona has managed to keep me out of the OR half the time, that doesn't eliminate the massive pile of paperwork that is now covering my desk.

After getting dressed for work, and seriously debating on having a cup of coffee I head out the door of our home. Even if I know Arizona would never know that I indulged in a cup of coffee, I couldn't allow myself to do it. I knew how she felt about what the 'caffeine effects' would have on the baby, and I had argued until I was blue in the face on more than one occasion. Obviously, we know who won that battle, as I make my way into work coffee-less.

"Good morning Ortho Robbins." One of the nurses says. Followed by another good morning from some interns. Since Arizona and I got married, we have pretty much went from being referred to by our last names, to being referred to as our specialty. Me, being 'Ortho Robbins', and Arizona 'Ped's Robbins'. It was becoming way too confusing when people would shout "Dr. Robbins" and we would both spin around. And not to mention ordering Labs. So now it's funny to see "O. Robbins or P. Robbins" come back printed on our lab tests for patients.

Making my way into my office, I am not surprised when I see chart after chart on the corner of my desk, as well as in the two empty seats across from it. Letting out a sigh, I drop my briefcase into my chair, and slip on my lab coat. Deciding that it could wait, I shut my door and decide to head towards the cafeteria. Being 6 months pregnant, I feel like I could eat every 30 minutes. And sadly, I almost do. Of course Arizona and I eat extremely healthy, and that does help. I used to chow down on a hamburger like there was no tomorrow, but after being with Arizona and hearing all her reasons behind being a vegetarian, it didn't take long for me to jump on that train with her. Now, even the thought of a greasy cheeseburger makes me sick. And not just because I'm pregnant.

"Morning Cal" Addison says to me, while taking a place behind me in line.

"Good morning Addy. What's up?" I ask.

"Nothing much. I figured you would be in your office, force feeding yourself donuts while you cry over your Arizona separation anxiety." She attempts to joke. Receiving a 'go to hell look' from me.

"Ouch. If looks could kill…" She says, holding her hands up in surrender.

"I'm just hungry, moody, and have a huge craving for coffee… which I can't have… so you might want to keep your distance." I say before ordering two bagels with soy cream cheese. As well as my usual coconut water. I loved the stuff before I got pregnant, but now it seems like the only thing I ever want to drink. And my awesome wife makes sure to keep our fridge stocked at all times. One of the many reasons I love her. Being spoiled is always a plus.

"I understand. You feeling ok lately? We have your next sono next week. The 7th month. Exciting." Addison says.

"Exciting for everyone else maybe. I on the other hand hear 7th month and think to myself how it's possible for my stomach to stretch any further without bursting."

"Oh Callie. You look great for almost 7 months. There are women out there that are double your size. Trust me. I have seen it. Not..A..Pretty..Sight." she says making her voice deeper with each word.

"Yikes. I can't even imagine."

During our conversation, I hear my phone go off in the pocket of my coat and I can't move fast enough to pull it out. Almost dropping it in the process before finally getting a glimpse of the screen and seeing a new text from my wife.

"Must be your better half." Addison says sarcastically before snagging half of my bagel.

Sliding my finger across the screen, and first smiling at the wallpaper of my wife, I hit the messages button and open her text. Trying to fight off the sudden pounding headache, I have to squint at the screen, seeing that it was blurry. I seriously need more sleep, I say to myself.

Landed safely in Syracuse babe – xoxo A

Good. I miss you already – xoxo C

I miss you more. And thank you for my surprises. If you were trying to make me cry, you succeeded -
xoxo A

Awe, I am glad you like it though. Text me after you get checked into your hotel love u – xoxo C

You know it. Love you more – xoxo A

Placing my phone on the table, I look over to find my friend with a shitty smirk on her face. "What?" I ask.

"You two have been together this long, and you still act like a couple of love sick teenagers. I hope Teddy and I can stay as happy as you two are."

"Don't be fooled Dr. Montgomery. We have our share of arguments. We just work well together. It's always easy to talk it out afterwards. How are you and Teddy anyways? Thinking of having a big old Lesbian Wedding like your best friends?" I say attempting at getting some juicy information while I can.

"Ha. I have been married before. Remember? I'm in no hurry to jump that hurdle yet. But all that aside, we are doing pretty well. We even started talking about moving in together. But it's still up in the air. Who knows. I think I'm in love, and I am close to telling her, but it has to happen at the right time. I don't want to just let it slip out and waste what should be a special moment." Addison says causing me to look at her shocked.

"You love her?" I ask seriously.

"Yeah. I do. I mean, what is not to love? She is sweet, and considerate, and treats me better than any man ever did. Even Derek. And the sex… Oh my goodness, the sex is -"

"Stop right there Addy. I love you. I do. But just like you don't want to hear about all the different ways my wife can twist me into a pretzel, I don't want to hear about you and Teddy bumping ugly's. Got it?" I say holding my hand up in protest.

"Bumping ugly's Cal? Seriously? Are you 12 or what? But fine. I will spare you, as long as you spare me." She says with a laugh.

Our little breakfast is cut short when I hear the squeal of my pager pierce the room. Looking down I see a page from Meredith and sigh. "Well that was fun while it lasted. Now back to business. If we get a chance, lets meet up for lunch. You can invite Teddy." I say towards Addison.

When we stand up to throw our trays, I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. Almost a cramping sensation, followed by the entire room starting to spin. Holding onto the back of the chair in an attempt to steady my self, Addison is quickly at my side.

"Callie, are you ok? What's wrong?" She asks nervously.

I try everything I can to answer her, but my head is pounding so hard I can hear it. As hard as I gripped the chair, it still wasn't enough to keep my upright, and then I felt my knees give out and I collapse onto the cafeteria floor.

I can't make out what is going on around me, everything is such a blur and all I hear is screaming and Addison yelling out orders to different people. But the words that I made out clear as day before everything went black was, "Someone call Ped's Robbins. She needs to get on the next plane home. And someone get me a gurney. We have vaginal bleeding." In the faint distance, I can hear Addison's voice saying over and over, "Hold on Callie. You fight. I'm going to help you and this baby… I promise you. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SOMEONE BETTER BE ON THE PHONE WITH HER WIFE!"..

Then… blackness…..

ARIZONA'S POV

Seeing the number from the hospital light up on my iphone, I smiled to myself. Callie had told me to text her once I got settled, but it made my heart flutter to see her calling me. I knew she had to be missing me as badly as I was missing her. But I was not prepared for what I was about to hear on the other end of that phone.

Thinking this was my wife calling I answer, "Hey sexy… Miss me already?" I say with a smile.

"Dr. Robbins?" A nervous sounding nurse asks. Clearing my throat, leaving 'wife mode' and moving into 'surgeon mode' I respond.

"Yes, this is Ped's Robbins. Can I help you?"

"Um, Dr. Robbins. I am sorry to bother you, but I was told. I was. I was told to call you. By—the nervous nurse drags out, and I feel myself becoming seriously annoyed.

"Just spit it out please. You were told to call me by whom?" I ask in an effort to speed this conversation up so I could call my wife.

"Dr. Montgomery told me to call you. It's about Ortho Robbins…. There's been an emergency. Dr. Montgomery says you need—" but the nurse doesn't get the chance to finish her sentence. I hang up the phone, jerk the door open to my hotel room, pulling my unpacked luggage behind me. Hailing a taxi, I say "Airport". And I am on my way back home.