Disclaimer: Characters belong to Shonda Rhimes and Grey's anatomy. I keep borrowing them just to have fun writing stories. I hope you enjoy too. I'm still French so I want to apologize beforehand for the mistakes. I try and try again to get a better English
Chapter 1: "Good memories are lost jewels."
It's been a few days that she had received the text. The beeps that came to interrupt the very enjoyable activities that she was practicing in her bed with Carina, had initially annoyed her a little.
This kind of activity was always extremely satisfying with the obstetrician, but when the eyes of Arizona had landed on the sender of the text, nothing else had mattered.
Her face must have visibly fallen, given the question posed to her by the Italian woman in her bed.
- Everything okay?
- Yeah... it's my... Um... It's my daughter Sofia... She ... She wants to move home
She didn't dare to believe it, of course she should later have an explanation with Callie about the reasons for this impromptu move, but she had very quickly postponed this idea to later, much later, as late as possible actually.
It's not that she didn't like hearing her ex-wife's voice, but she had been avoiding it for months, preferring more neutral communication from texts or e-mails.
"Hey, mommy is Sofia. May I come and finish the school year in Seattle?"
By the time she read the message that the little girl had sent with her other mother's phone, Arizona had thought that the earth had stopped spinning. Another one had followed.
"Mama agrees by the way. I love you to Pluto and back a million times. Sofia. »
Since Sofia had discovered during a science school project that Pluto was farther from Earth than the Moon, she had decided that loving her mother from Seattle "to the Moon and back" was no longer enough. Her eyes shining with tears that incomparable love to nothing else in her life made always come as soon as she thought about her little girl, Arizona had smiled.
Finally, a last message from her ex-wife, the other person who had often made tears spring up in her eyes appeared on the screen.
"I do agree, let's talk about it whenever you want. Callie"
Driven by a ridiculous need to make sure it was really true, Arizona had read them a second time, and then her heart had burst with joy in a way that she no longer remembered that it could do it
The fear that Sofia would replace her with Penny and that she would simply forget her, had invaded her since her daughter left for New York; suddenly this anxiety was erased, giving way quickly to panic.
Forgetting where she was, who was with her and what she was doing just a few seconds ago, Arizona's thoughts right away focused on Sofia. Organize her arrival, contact the school, change her schedule at work so she can spend time with her daughter, prepare her a new bedroom, perhaps repaint the walls...
As always when she panicked, she had explained it badly to the naked woman at her side who discovered with astonishment, expressions that she had never seen on the face of the blonde whom she had been dating for a few months.
Probably expressing in a clumsy way that she now needed time and space for her daughter, Arizona had accidentally broken up that night with Carina.
Right now, a few green paint stains on her face and a roll in her hand, humming a tune that was playing on the radio, she was testing different shades of green to cover the walls of Sofia's room.
It's been a long time since she sang, and it's been a while since she got any good news in her life. She was feeling really good. It was springtime. Outside the sun was shining, nature was waking from a long sleep after the long winter months and Arizona felt that she had slept too long too. Sofia, her sunshine was finally coming back to light her existence.
The blonde cannot repress a burst of laughter. She should correct this misunderstanding with Carina. Besides being funny and light, the obstetrician, specialist of orgasm was a rather exceptional lover; and her naughty side was pretty sexy too.
After all the dramas she had been through since she had crossed the magical eyes of a certain brunette; a little lightness was all she asked for in her life for the moment.
In retrospect, she was aware that Carina had seemed a little disappointed, but the Italian had quickly found comfort in Owen's arms, and it had not really bothered Arizona when she found out that.
The blonde sighed deeply; it wasn't like if it had been Callie. With Callie from the very beginning of their relationship, she had been jealous and insecure. Her bisexuality was freaking her out, her impatience was freaking her out, everything actually was freaking her out with Callie, Callie herself was freaking her out.
Love is really complicated and you are often hurt when you get carried away, was thinking Arizona. She had painfully experienced that, when she let her guard down and fell madly in love with Calliope Iphigenia Torres. That was exactly the reason why before she met her, she had always been careful not to get involved in a serious relationship, and that rule, she intended to start applying it again from now on.
A smile spreads over her lips in spite of herself while the full name of her ex-wife comes out naturally of her mouth.
Not loving Calliope was not a matter of the will, but of power.
She couldn't not love her. Callie had made her loving her, and gave her so much love back, because giving love was like second nature to Calliope.
The Latina had turned her world upside down. She had changed absolutely everything; her dreams, her conception about romantic relationships and life, but above all, she had given her the most beautiful gift that anyone has ever given her. She had allowed her to be Sofia's mother and thus made her discover the incredibly frightening and extraordinarily fulfilling feeling of being a mother.
And then Callie had taken back everything. All her love, all the dreams and also their child.
Arizona shakes her head, chasing away the thoughts that were still coming from time to time to settle there. She didn't really like her mind was wandering that side of the road.
She was now done with the anger as well as with the sleepless nights trying to keep the memory of the brunette's scent, of the softness of her skin, and even to regret the slight purring of her breathing that cradled her in her sleep. She had spent years trying to forget her ex-wife and ended up putting her in the little jewelry box, with the heart of Valentine's Day, the wedding ring, and the ring of the new start; and Calliope should have to stay there.
She had taken her life in hands, she was passionate about her work, and this casual relationship with Carina suited her perfectly.
The Italian was a free spirit she didn't stay in the same place for long, and apparently wasn't seriously involved in relationships either, so everyone was on the same page, there was no problem.
From now on, everything would be fine. Sofia would come back, she would fix the mess she had made with Carina, and her life would be perfect this way, the fetal surgeon was convincing herself in her inner speech.
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At the nurses' office, leaning on her elbows on the counter, April was nonchalantly scrolling through the profiles on her phone.
With her eyes still on her own screen, Maguy was walking towards the redhead.
- So, have you got a match?
- No... too young... um... way too young... still too young. Can you tell me why youth today needs to register on dating sites? It's not like they have to work twelve hours a day and go home to take care of a child a few months old... I mean, they're spoilt for choice, they spend their days in classrooms with girls and boys of the same age group, they go to university campuses full of young people like them... God, they have all the time and space to meet!
Clearly, April was asking a rhetorical question that Maguy didn't have an answer for anyway.
Hearing the complaints of the redhead, Alex, who had just finished his rounds, throws himself on a chair in front of the two surgeons.
- So how come you were still a virgin after college?...
The redhead shrugs her shoulders and looks up to the sky.
- It was a choice... A philosophical choice... I wanted it to be a sincere commitment
Pediatric surgeon bursts with laughter.
- And is it also a «sincere philosophical choice » that leads you today, to try to get laid with any guy who writes nothing but crap on his profile?
As April grumbled, Maggie giggled at the cynical thoughts of the pediatric surgeon.
She herself was not very sure that this was the best way to find the love of a life, but while waiting for this big day, and as the day was going to be slow, she could always use it to try to cheer up her night.
At the same time, the three surgeons lowered their eyes towards their pockets. Obviously, the cardiologist's plans were going to be postponed, the simultaneous sound of all the pagers was not a sign of a quiet day.
Heading quickly towards the E.R, Richard passes by the group.
- A pileup on the highway. A truck and several cars are involved. We don't have the number of casualties, but there would be one pregnant woman. Has anyone seen Robbins this morning?
Wounded arrived one by one in the ambulances. A driver had lost consciousness, his truck had crossed the highway hitting the vehicles it encountered in its wild race. As Maggie took care of the man who appeared to have had a heart attack, Ben went into the emergency room with a woman on a stretcher.
- 30-year-woman -27 weeks of amenorrhea, loss of consciousness for a few minutes. Complains about lower abdominal pain.
Miranda approaches the woman who was moaning.
- What's your name?
- Nora Sobs the woman
- Relax, Nora. We'll try and keep your baby safe. Addressing herself to no one in particular, but to all those who used to obey her unquestioningly, the little woman whose authority was not related to her height, cries out. If Dr Robbins doesn't answer, call Deluca. Somebody page Deluca!
- Andrew?
- No, Carina Deluca. Kepner! Jesus, it's a pregnant woman! Answers Bailey looks up to heaven
- Uh, Andrew might know where Arizona is, he is her roommate, uh... He was... Mutters April who did not think her idea stupid, but still did not dare to face Miranda.
In front of the scene, frowning, Alex takes his phone to call the fetal surgeon, mumbling
- That's weird. Arizona's still answering her pager... While his mentor's phone was ringing in the void, he stopped Carina who was running towards Miranda, with a wave of his hand.
- Deluca, have you seen Arizona?
- No, I haven't seen her in days... She needed space so I let her...
Considering that this hospital, with all these complicated romantic stories like teenagers, sometimes looked more like a reality show than a renowned health center, Alex does not bother to listen to the end of the sentence and gets closer April who was busy with a young man who complained of a strong pain in the head.
- April, do you know where Robbins is?
- Um... We spoke on the phone last night; she was at home. -Uh... She was painting Sofia's room, but then, I don't know. Dr Shepherd a case for you here!... Screams the redheaded while continuing her work no longer worrying about the pediatrician's questions.
Secretly, April thought that her friend had probably changed her mind and had preferred to go out for a drink in a gay bar rather than spend the evening, choosing the shade of green that would cover the walls of her daughter's room and she was convinced, one thing leading to another, that the blonde had simply spend a pleasantly restless night.
- You are in contact with Dr. Arizona Robbins…
Alex' face gets darker. Usually, his mentor was always reachable. It didn't sound like Arizona to turn off the beep and phone. The man's eyes quickly sweep the emergency room, there were no children involved in the accident, so the pediatric surgeon was no longer required here. Alarmed, he walks away with determination.
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In New York, Callie was grumpy, it was the mood that inhabited her most of the time in recent months. She tried to contain herself in front of Sofia, but deep down, she always felt irritated. She obviously understood that her little daughter wanted to come back to Seattle. The absence of her other mother was too heavy for the child who had always been used to seeing each of her mother as much as she wished, and the Latina thought to herself that she must have been blinded by, she didn't really know what or who, to imagine that it might work for Sofia.
Right now, her irritation was paroxysmal. Not only did Sofia's departure saddened and distressed her, but she also couldn't even have a conversation with her ex-wife.
Arizona had only sent her a rather terse email, asking her if there was a problem with Sofia that justifying her early move in relation to their agreement and if she should be made aware of certain things before welcoming her, along with some random things for enrollment in school, and dance classes.
Oddly, it really upset the Latina. Not that she absolutely wanted to have conversations with her ex-wife, but she thought they might be a little more cordial, at least regarding their co-parenting. Alone in the room Callie mumbles for herself «Some things must be said with the mouth and not with a keyboard, damn it! ». But apparently Dr Robbins had now chosen this mode of communication, at least with her ex-wife.
Even though a few months earlier, she had made this unbelievable generous gesture of letting their daughter move to New York, Callie thought that Arizona, certainly had many reasons to be furious, and many good reasons for not wanting to talk to her too. But acknowledging that, didn't make her any less annoyed by the fact that she had tried to phone her several times in the last days and her calls had all gone unanswered.
She didn't understand it, they had a child together, they should one day or another have a courteous relationship again, and the sooner the better.
Reinforced by this resolution, while she was packing Sofia's suitcase for her impending departure; the orthopedic surgeon grabs her phone and presses for the umpteenth time on the contact corresponding to her daughter's other mother, falling once again, on the cheerful voice of her ex-wife on the answering machine.
In a fit of anger, the Latina throws the telephone on Sofia's bed as it starts to ring. With a smile on her face, Callie rushes to pick up the telephone and take the long-awaited call. Her smile falls.
- Hey, Meredith, so what's up?
- Hi Callie. Uh... are you okay? ...
- Yeah... Mer... I... I don't like to ask this... But, uh... I have no option but you... Could you ask Arizona to call me... I've been trying to reach her for several days and I can't. You know Sofia has to come to Seattle in three days and I think...
- Callie...
-… That it wouldn't be too much to ask to have a conversation other than in writing with my daughter's mother, but apparently, I still ask too much because she...
- Callie...
- ... She doesn't even take my calls and... Even though I'm not proud of my last moments in Seattle... I think we should overcome this for Sofia's sake, and...
- Callie! Yells Meredith across the line. The Latina was not easy to stop when she embarked on a verbal hike. During few seconds, a silence settles, both women so astonished at the intensity of the cry...You cannot send Sofia to Seattle now. Meredith ends up saying.
- What?! And why I will not be able to... Ah, okay, I get it, she is still too busy... How does she expect me to explain to my daughter that her mother can't take care of her, when she agreed just a few days ago? ... Why doesn't she tell me that herself, by the way?
In front of the silence of her friend on the other side of the country, the bubbling spirit of the Latin was cooling off. Suddenly her throat ties, her blood freezes.
- What's going on, Mer? What's happened with her...?
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