please note that mark does not come off well in this, so if you're pro mark, maybe take a pass

part two

Callie fussed with the corner of a medical journal. She wasn't even sure what one it was. She glanced down at it. "C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of postoperative infection in pediatric patients", right so one of Arizona's. She tossed the journal back on the coffee table.

Her stomach twisted painfully.

She needed to do this. It was like a bandaid. She just had to rip it off, so to say. Just have the conversation with Mark and it'd be done.

Arizona had taken Sofia with her to run errands before dropping Sofia off for a playdate with Zola, but Arizona was efficient and wouldn't be gone forever. Callie had offered to have the conversation with Mark with Arizona present, but Arizona had shook her head, immediately volunteering to take Sofia to Zola's. It was almost uncharacteristic, or it would've been if Callie hadn't seen Arizona break down earlier.

Before they left the hospital, Callie had checked the schedule and Mark wasn't on call. So really, all she'd need to do was walk across the hall and potentially end her longest standing friendship.

Callie chewed on the inside of her cheek absently.

Part of her so didn't want to have this conversation. It was going to be painful and awful and it was going to change everything. Mark was her best friend. He was Sofia's father. But he crossed the line. He destroyed the line and Callie would never be able to unsee the painful devastation in Arizona's eyes.

Arizona kept things bottled up. She always had. And Callie had known Arizona had been struggling with things over the past few months. But she hadn't… she had been afraid of pushing the issue with Arizona out of fear that Arizona was going to leave. Because Callie had thrown Arizona in the deep end when she came back from Africa and why wouldn't Arizona leave? She had left before.

But the truth was somehow worse because what did it say about Callie that her wife, her wife, the love of her life, the mother of her daughter didn't feel like she could tell Callie what happened?

That Arizona, what, didn't trust her?

Didn't think that Callie would believe her? Didn't think that Callie would be horrified with Mark?

And she was, horrified that is. Because Mark called Arizona nothing. Was that what Mark thought of Arizona? That she was nothing? That she was somehow lesser than her or Mark?

Callie swallowed back the bile that rose in her throat.

What if something had happened to her? If she had died and Sofia had lived, would Mark have kept Arizona from Sofia? Because Arizona was nothing? Or even now, if something happened to her, there weren't any protections for Arizona, despite their lawyer's best efforts.

Arizona was Sofia's mama. She wasn't nothing. She was everything, everything to Callie.

Fuck, she really needed to talk to Mark. She needed to fix this.

As if on cue, the door burst open behind her.

Exhaling softly, she stood to her feet to face Mark. As soon as she saw him, her anger from earlier resurfaced, replacing the odd mixture of regret and guilt.

"What's wrong? Rough surgery?" Mark asked as he dropped onto one of the bar stools. "Is Robbins dropping Sof off at her playdate with Zola?"

Callie's anger curled in her chest at the casual way Mark just existed in the space, her and Arizona's space. He just walked in and sat down. Like he belonged there. Normally, she liked having Mark around. He was her best friend. But right now, she was seriously close to finding one of Arizona's mythical bricks and hitting Mark's stupid 'Sloan nose'.

"Callie? Is something wrong?"

Callie rocked back on her heels, almost bracing herself for the fallout to come.

"We need to talk."

Mark's brow creased and his mouth pressed into a thin line. "Callie," Mark started, his voice careful and low, "What happened? Is it Sofia? Arizona? You're really freaking me out here."

"We need to talk," Callie repeated as she spun her wedding ring around her finger. "We need to talk about, about what you, what you said to Arizona before Sofia was born. What you said after the accident." Mark's expression clouded over and Callie's heart sank. Not that she didn't believe Arizona. How could she not believe her after seeing her break down like she had that afternoon? But a small part of her had hope it was just a misunderstanding, that maybe things could be fixed. However, Mark's expression, the flickering regret and anger and guilt, confirmed things for her.

Mark shifted in his seat, his hands clenching and unclenching atop his legs. He exhaled before saying, "So Robbins finally ratted me out?"

"Ratted you out? Ratted you out? Are you fucking kidding me, Mark?" Callie set her shoulders back as her anger spilled out of her. Was Mark blaming Arizona somehow? "No, she didn't rat you out. I found her in an on-call room, having a nightmare, sobbing, because of the things you said to her. Because of you, Mark! How could you?" She seethed, taking a half step forward.

Mark held up his hands in a poor attempt at placation. "Whoa, Cal, I apologised. It was a stupid arugment. We were both stressed out and Robbins said shit too-"

"Mark, you said she was nothing!" Callie cut in, "You said she was nothing to me, to Sofia! You said that this was your family. But Mark, this," Callie waved a hand around the apartment, the apartment she fell in love with Arizona in, the apartment where they were building their family in, "is not your family. I am not your family. You are, were, are, I don't know, my best friend, and you have always been there for me. But I am not your family. My family is me and Arizona and Sofia. Yours is you and Sofia. And honestly, right now, I'm not sure I even want you around after what you said to Arizona."

"What I said to Arizona? What about what she said? She called me a sperm donor, as if I wasn't the father!" Mark stood to his feet, all but beating his chest as he barked, "I'm Sofia's father!"

"I know! We all know! And no one has never tried to deny you that. I gave you the option to not be involved when I found out and you have made it incredibly clear that you are involved. We have never treated you like a sperm donor but you… God, Mark, you called Arizona nothing and you said we could just 'screw' again to replace Sofia."

"Look," sighed Mark, rubbing at his jaw, "we both said dumb shit. She was all freaked out, who wouldn't be, girlfriend in a coma-"

"Fiance."

"What?"

"We were engaged. Arizona asked me to marry her. She was my fiance and you called her nothing. You know how much I love Arizona, how hard we've had to fight to be together, and you just, what? Let your stupid ego discredit Arizona's place?"

Mark shook his head, his jaw still set in anger. "That wasn't… I, she wanted to choose Sofia over you because-"

"Because that's what I would've wanted? And what, you were going to save me because we could just 'screw' again? Let me make this perfectly clear, Mark, you and I," Callie gestured between the two of them, "are never sleeping together, making anymore babies ever again-"

"But look how adorable Sofia turned out-"

"Are you seriously making jokes right now, Mark? Seriously?" She folded her arms over her chest as she glared at him. Why couldn't he take something serious for once in his life? "You told Arizona she was nothing!"

"I didn't mean it, not really. I was upset and terrified and you were dying! Sofia was dying! And Robbins was pissy and scared too. We argued, we apologised, it's not a big deal. We've moved on from it, or at least, I thought we had."

Not a big deal? Not a big deal?

"Not a big deal! Mark, it is a huge deal! Arizona is my wife. She is Sofia's mother. God, I can barely even look at you. What is wrong with you? Are you that insecure? What, are you a little boy trying to safeguard his favourite toys? Grow the fuck up, Mark."

Mark's expression morphed into a sneer and Callie braced herself for whatever vitriol he could spew. Normally, she was the one who talked Mark down, or the one who let him vent. But not this time, not over Arizona. She didn't think she'd ever be able to rid herself of the brokenness in Arizona's voice as she repeated Mark's words, trying to convince herself that she wasn't nothing.

"So, what, you're taking her side? She said I was just a sperm donor. Bet she didn't tell you that! Because she can do no wrong in your world. Even though she's the one who left you, she's the one who picked Africa and her career over you. I was the one," Mark jabbed a finger at his chest, "I was the one whose shoulder you cried on, I was the one who put you back together. And now, what, you're tossing me out?"

"Mark-"

"You know, I never thought you'd do this, Cal, pick her over me-"

"Mark, don't do this, don't make me choose-"

"Why? 'Cause you'll choose Robbins over me?"

"There aren't any sides, Mark! But Arizona and I are married. She's who I plan to spend the rest of my life with. I pick her every time, got it? She's my wife. And she came back. Yes, she left and I fell apart, but she came back. She came back for me. She's not going anywhere. She's my wife and she's Sofia's mama and if you have a problem with that, you and I are going to have a problem."

And that was the truth of the matter. Arizona wasn't going anywhere. She was in. Arizona wasn't bailing. Had Arizona ever really bailed?

"A problem? What does that even mean? You're gonna keep me from Sofia, keep me from my daughter?"

Callie sighed, fatigue settling on her shoulders. All she had wanted was a civilized conversation with Mark, but instead he flew off the handle. Mindful to keep her voice level, she started, "No, that's not at all what I'm saying. I don't want to get lawyers involved if we don't have to. But…" she paused, trying to gather herself for a moment, "Things have to change. We, you and I, we need boundaries. I'm not your wife, I'm not your girlfriend and I'm certainly not your mother."

"That's bullshit, Callie, and you know it. You're my best friend-"

"And I never said I wasn't, all I'm saying is I need some space, Arizona and I need some space. You can't just walk into our apartment all the time. You don't need to spend every waking moment with me." Mark opened his mouth, but Callie cut her off, "I'm not saying with Sofia, although I do think we should have a firmer schedule. Sofia needs a routine. But that's not what's important right now. You and I, we've always leaned on each other. But I have Arizona now to lean on. And honestly, right now," she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I am so angry at you. I have defended you for years to everyone! To Arizona! I told her you were a good guy, that you were more than just a, a… I don't even know. But God, I want to throttle you right now."

"You're seriously this pissed over an argument Robbins and I had months ago? Callie, c'mon-"

"No," she snapped, "Do not try and downplay this. Don't do that. You told Arizona she was nothing, nothing to me or Sofia. How do I know that you won't say that to Sofia someday? How do I know that you don't believe that? I just… I need space. I need to think and I need you to… need you to… fuck, I don't know. Just…"

"Just what? Tell me, Callie," Mark barked, his lip curling up as his eyes narrowed. "What?"

Callie tugged a hand through her hair. She didn't even know what she wanted or even needed from Mark at this point. "I just need you out, Mark. I need you to stay away from me before I say something I regret. I… I…. You crossed a line, Mark. You have crossed so many lines. And that is on me for not creating boundaries, but you… you crossed a line. You called Arizona nothing and you told her we could just 'screw again'," she sighed heavily, squeezing her eyes shut. She struggled to hold onto her anger, sadness and regret nearly over-powering it. "You crossed a line. And honestly, right now, I don't think I can forgive you for that. Maybe in time, I can, but right now, all I… right now, Arizona is my priority. Sofia is my priority. I can't… I can't deal with this, with you. So, just… just go, Mark."

"That's it? You can't deal with me? Well, don't come crying to me when Robbins goes and-"

"When I what, Sloan?"

Callie's head snapped to the side at the sound of Arizona's voice. When had she come in?

Arizona stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable and her arms wrapped tight around her ribcage. As Callie's gaze lingered on Arizona, she could see the tightness and weariness around her eyes, the wary set to her jaw.

"When I what?" Arizona repeated, her voice such a departure from her usual tone. Arizona was all sunshine and magic and happiness. That's what Callie associated with Arizona: happiness. But she also knew that that was only a sliver of who Arizona was. In that moment, her chin tipped up and her eyes hard and her spine ramrod straight, she was every inch her father's daughter, a sharp departure from her everyday demeanor. "Say it, Mark."

Callie glanced back to Mark, almost forgetting for a moment that he was also there.

"When you leave," Mark spat out, "When you bail again."

"I'm not going anywhere. This is my family and I protect the things I love and I'm not leaving. No matter what you think of me, that I bail or that I'm nothing, I'm not going anywhere." Arizona swallowed hard and Callie wanted nothing more than to go towards her and hold her but she couldn't move. It was like she was frozen to the ground. "I'm not going anywhere. I don't bail. I certainly don't bail on my family."

"I think you should go, Mark," Callie finally found her voice again. "You have Sofia tomorrow night."

"Oh, so glad you're not trying to keep me from my daughter."

Arizona cut in before Callie could, "No one is keeping you from Sofia. No one has ever said that."

"But we," Callie started, "I need space. I need you to give me, us space."

Mark huffed out a breath, his eyes darting between the two of them. "Whatever, I'm leaving. Giving you 'space'," he said, his tone almost mocking. It grated on Callie's nerves, but she let it go. It wasn't worth it.

As Mark stormed past her, Arizona stepped further into the apartment, her eyes never leaving Callie.

Once the door slammed shut after Mark, both of them nearly crumbled.

Arizona dropped her bag on the ground before rushing to Callie's side. Callie held her wife tight to her, running a hand the length of Arizona's back as Arizona let out a sob into her shoulder.

"How much did you hear?" Callie asked as she guided them down to the couch, cradelling Arizona closer to her. "I didn't even hear you come in."

"I heard you tell Mark you need boundaries," Arizona said softly, brushing her fingers through the ends of Callie's hair. "That you need space. That you have me to lean on. You know that, right? I've always," Arizona hesitated, "I'm always here for you."

Their foreheads touched, each just breathing slowly, taking the moment with each other.

"I can't believe you yelled at Mark."

"I can't believe I yelled at Mark. We didn't really discuss it in all of the yelling, but I did tell him we needed more of a schedule for Sofia and I forgot to tell him, but I want our key back. Or maybe we should just start locking the door more."

"The Colonel will be thrilled. He had 'security concerns' when he was last here. But that may have just been about Mark walking in and out. He really doesn't like him."

"Looks like the Colonel and I agree on something." Arizona breathed out a laugh against the crook of Callie's neck. "I was thinking, speaking of the Colonel," she started.

"Always a dangerous start."

Callie pinched Arizona's hip. "Don't be a brat. I was thinking," Callie repeated, "that it would be fun to go see your parents in the spring. We could go right after Sofia's birthday. Isn't your dad's birthday a couple weeks after? We could go like mid-May, take a week or so, avoid the crazy resident stuff. I mean, you've got Karev locked down and there aren't many ortho prospects this year."

"Yeah… that would… my dad would love that…" Arizona trailed off, a faraway look in her eye. Callie knew that there was something unsaid, but she wasn't going to push too hard. She knew what Arizona was thinking: Tim's birthday. It fell only two days after Sofia's and that week was sure to stir up complex emotions for her wife, which was half the reason Callie wanted to go away from Seattle for some time.

"Just something to think about."

Arizona hummed in response, her eyes still unfocused. Then she turned back to Callie. "I'm exhausted, but I'm starving, how about we order some Chinese and have an early, baby-free night? We both have super early surgery, or at least I know I do."

"No, no, I do too." Callie took a moment to just breathe in Arizona's presence. "But how about we just take a minute, just be together? Today's been… today's been a lot."

"Way to undersell it, Calliope."

that's right, robbins-torres family vacation to avoid the plane crash, I went there

lmk if you'd be interested in the vacation follow up :)

hit me up on twitter lavender_lenax or tumblr avasharpest or in the comments here if you have requests! (for either drabbles or something longer!)

much love xx