Widow Robbins

Chapter 9

Addison looked across the table at her brooding friend. "You're sulking."

"I'm not… I'm not sulking." Callie frowned at the salad and lasagna in front of her. She didn't know why she grabbed the items. Her appetite waned the more she thought about her conversation with Arizona.

Addison pointed at her meal. "Is that the only thing you eat? It's always lasagna, salad or both."

"Lasagna is good and salad is healthy." Callie forced herself to spear a tomato and eat it to prove her point. "I have pizza sometimes." The thought of her last pizza with the twins made her stomach flip flop once again.

"Do you want to talk about why you're upset or should I track down Arizona?"

"Why would you need to talk to her about me? I'm not the one who's upset."

Addison looked to the ceiling. "Lord give me strength. This place really is a high school." She stared intently at her friend. "You're upset because the woman you're crushing on is mad at you. Rightfully so,I might add."

Callie leaned back in her chair and met Addison's gaze. "There is so much wrong with that sentence that I don't know where to begin."

"It's okay for you to have a crush on her, Cal, but if you want there to be something more…"

"I'm not gay! Why does everyone suddenly think I'm gay!" She exclaimed loudly. She blushed when she realized how loudly she had spoken, then lowered her voice. "I'm not, okay?"

"Callie, it's okay if you are or you aren't."

"And I don't have a crush on Arizona."

"You like her."

"Of course I like her. We're friends. What's not to like?"

"It's okay to have crushes on colleagues. Sexuality notwithstanding, she has KIDS, Callie, and that complicates matters. Her being a widow further complicates it."

"Would you just stop? I don't have a crush on Arizona," Callie repeated harshly.

Addison leaned back in her chair. "Fine. Then if it's not Arizona, what is bothering you?"

Callie's voice dropped as though telling a secret. "Alex and Lexie said that intern, Sadie, was flirting with me a few days ago and then yesterday, she was all up in my personal space before the resident meeting started." She cut a small piece of lasagna and nibbled on it.

"Yes, I noticed that when we walked in. I would have to agree with them."

"Why does everyone think I'm gay? First, Erica, now this Sadie chick. You seem to think I'm harboring feelings for Arizona. Am I putting out some weird lesbian vibe without realizing it?"

"Listen, I'm still going to be here for you if you're straight, a lesbian, bi, whatever. It's not something to be scared or ashamed of. But you need to figure out what you want because I suspect there's a perky blonde in peds who feels the same way. Just remember, she's got kids. Those kids are going to come first every time."

"Trust me, I know." Callie took a sip from her drink. "And she's still mad at me."

"I'm sure she's not so angry anymore."

"How do you know? Has she said something to you?"

Addison had spent time with Arizona after the meeting and again in the morning. The younger woman didn't seem to be angry anymore. She had seemed resigned and sad. Addison shook her head. "She doesn't seem like the type to hold on to anger."

"Pfftt. Have you seen her around Erica?" Callie shuddered. "They never interact directly, but the way Arizona glares at her…man if looks could kill, Erica would have been dead long ago."

"Is Erica still keeping Yang out of the OR?"

Callie groaned and leaned back in her chair to look up at the ceiling. "Yes. God. I forgot I told Yang I'd talk to her about it. Why are all the women in my life making it so difficult?"

Addison laughed as she stood. "Interesting phrasing. I need to go check on some patients."

"Can you…" Callie blushed. She couldn't believe she was about to ask for Addison's help. "Could you…no…forget it."

Addison decided to take pity on her friend. "I suppose I can put in a good word for you with Arizona." She said with a dramatic sigh. She pointed her finger at the other woman. "You owe me, Torres."

# # # # # # # # # #

The next morning found Arizona clicking her pen absentmindedly as she stared at the case study on her desk. She was supposed to be preparing for the surgery with Addison and Christina, yet her thoughts kept drifting to Callie Torres. Maybe she was being too hard on her about what had happened over the weekend. The girls were safe. There were worse things that could have happened. There was also the fact that the girls were left with a doctor. Technically, she couldn't ask for anything better.

When are you going to admit you want to date Callie? Letting her babysit was a test she didn't know she was taking. You're being unfair. Arizona scowled as her thoughts sounded like her mother's voice.

Callie's voice rang through her mind. Where does that leave us?

Where did that leave them?

A light tap on the door caught her attention. She looked up to see Addison standing in the doorway. She ran her gaze down the other surgeon's body. She could appreciate Addison's beauty but didn't feel the pull of attraction that she constantly fought when she was near Callie.

"Something on your mind?" Addison questioned as she entered Arizona's office leaving the door open and sat across from her.

"Too much." She responded as she leaned back in her chair.

"Anything I can help with?"

"Not unless you have experience re-entering the dating pool after a spouse's death," she said wryly.

"Well Derek's not dead, but our marriage is, so I kind of get it."

"Derek? Derek Derek? As in…"

"Yes, I was married to, cheated on and got divorced from McDreamy," Addison said dramatically, rolling her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"No, I'm sorry. I forget sometimes that not everyone knows all the sordid history of this hospital." She took a deep breath . "But I do know how difficult it is to figure out if you're ready to start dating again."

Arizona nodded, but said nothing.

"How long has it been since your husband died?"

"Wife," she said automatically. She met Addison's gaze and saw no judgment so she pushed on. "Three years next Monday."

"So that's why you aren't on the schedule that day."

Arizona moved some papers on her desk. "My mother has been pushing me to start dating again. Even more since Callie and I have been hanging out fairly frequently."

Before Addison could respond, a confident knock came from the doorway. Cristina stood stoically, holding a thick folder.

"Ah, Dr. Yang, just in time." Arizona gathered the case studies which covered her desk. "Let's move this to one of the conference rooms. As you can see, the hospital shoved me into a closet." She chuckled at her terrible joke, realizing after she said it that Yang wasn't aware it was a joke.

Addison flashed a smile at Arizona, hoping to put her at ease.

Cristina tilted her head slightly. Did that mean Roller girl was gay? Did Callie know? Before she could give it too much thought, she was following the other two doctors down the hall and into a conference room. It wasn't long before she was immersed in the final preparations for the surgery the next day.

"Okay, I think we're as prepared as we're going to be," Addison said over two long hours later. "Everyone get plenty of rest tonight." She gave Cristina a warning look. "That means no going to Joe's tonight."

"I wasn't planning on it," Cristina said tersely, almost feeling insulted.

"Good. We'll save the drinks for tomorrow night after a successful surgery. I'll buy the first round."

Cristina picked up the folder. "Dr. Montgomery, may I have the tape to review the surgery tonight?"

"Sure." Addison popped the tape out of the VCR and handed it to Cristina.

"Be sure not to share it with any impressionable children," Arizona teased with a wink.

Cristina scowled, shook her head and left the room. Weirdos, she thought. If I see another kid that isn't on an OR table it'll be all too soon.

# # # # # # # # # #

Arizona fiddled with her phone, typing and deleting text after text. Nothing sounded right. She finally ended up typing a bland "Lunch?" and hoped for the best.

A few minutes later a "where?" was Callie's one-word acknowledgement.

She quickly answered back "Park with the girls?"

Her phone vibrated immediately and a "YES!" was Callie's reply.

Arizona smiled. Although she felt a bit of nervousness at seeing the resident, having the girls today would be a good buffer.

She responded with a "Meet us there in twenty minutes? I'm buying."

She gathered up the girls, not telling them that Callie would be joining them. She stopped at their favorite deli where she bought sandwiches for the girls, a tossed salad for herself, a pasta salad for Callie and some drinks. She was oddly pleased with herself that she knew what Callie's favorite lunch-to-go was.

She spotted Callie sitting on the bench, her back to them. The girls were too busy talking about going on the swings to see her at first. When Callie stood up, the girls saw her and immediately ran to her.

"Dr. Callie! Dr. Callie!"

They threw their arms around her and hugged her.

"Surprise!" Callie said with a laugh.

"We haven't seen you in forever," Cam said, tugging on her arm.

"I know," Callie agreed. "I think you've both grown at least a foot."

"We have not!"

"You're silly, Dr. Callie," Vivvy added with a giggle.

Arizona hung back and watched Callie interact with her daughters. Why was I so hard on Callie, Arizona thought contritely. She's so good with the girls. She would never hurt them intentionally. I owe her an apology. I overreacted. Not with the rest of them, but with Callie.

"Okay, girls, let's go eat. Swings later," she said as she carried the bags over to an empty picnic table.

"Hey," Callie said. "Thanks for inviting me. I've missed the girls."

"They've missed you, too."

Left unspoken was each woman wondering if the other had missed them as well.

To keep the girls from arguing over who got to sit next to Callie, Arizona had them sit together on one side and she and Callie sat opposite them. She placed the girls sandwiches in front of them, along with their drinks, then handed Callie her salad.

"I got you a pasta salad. I hope that's okay." Arizona said hesitantly.

"You remembered. Thanks. They make a good pasta salad there." Callie responded, touched that Arizona knew her favorite dish from the deli.

"I'll have to try it next time," Arizona answered as she popped the lid off her salad and added the dressing.

"Do you want a taste?" Callie asked, suddenly blushing at her choice of words. "Of my salad, I mean," she stammered.

Arizona's cheeks flushed a faint pink as her thoughts quickly turned most definitely to non-PG. "I'd, uh, love a taste."

Callie dipped her spoon into her pasta salad and held it out. Their fingers brushed against one another's and Callie swore she felt sparks. She openly stared at the blonde as she slid the spoon into her mouth. I never noticed how beautiful Arizona is, Callie thought, surprising herself with that thought.

"That is good," Arizona commented, licking her lips. "I'll have to have it next time we go there. Thank you, Callie."

They gazed at one another, a tension growing between them that neither wanted to define. The spell was broken when Cam's feet collided with Arizona's legs under the table.

"Ouch! Cam, stop kicking." Arizona admonished.

"Not kicking," she said as she chewed her sandwich. "I'm practicin' for the swings." She continued to swing her legs back and forth.

"Save your energy for when you get on the swings," Arizona gently reprimanded her.

Cam pouted but obeyed her mommy. Callie tried not to smile at the young girl but she failed.

"Are you coming to our party, Dr. Callie?" Vivvy asked.

Callie looked to Arizona who nodded. "Yes. Are you excited?"

"Yes!"

"We're gonna have cake and ice cream and hot dogs'"

"And presents!"

"And games!" Cam finished.

"Well, I happen to be very good at games," Callie said.

"You won't be able to beat us," Vivvy said. "We're twins. We're a team."

"Yeah, we're the best," Cam bragged.

"Well, I'll just be sure to wear my fastest sneakers to keep up with you."

"You can team up with Mommy," Vivvy suggested.

The two women exchanged a brief smile, before turning their gaze back to the girls. "I'd love that," she responded.

"Are you finished with lunch?" Arizona asked.

"Yes, Mommy."

"Can we swing now?" Cam asked, brimming with excitement as she quickly shoved her empty wrappers into the bag.

"Yes, but no spinning, Cam."

The girls jumped up from the table and raced toward the swings, Callie and Arizona trailing after them.

"So, I'd like to apologize to you, Callie."

"I should apologize to you," Callie interrupted.

"No, you were doing me a huge favor, and I was really harsh with you. You didn't deserve that. It wasn't your fault, and I overreacted."

"No, you were right. I shouldn't have left them with Yang. But really, they were just playing Mario Kart when I left."

"It's okay, Callie. Really. I guess having my Sunday morning start with the girls waking me up by singing "Like a Virgin' just set me off."

"What?" Callie stopped abruptly.

"Well, they started by singing, then ended up arguing whether it was surgeon or virgin." Arizona's movement halted when she noticed Callie was no longer beside her.

Callie snorted, then covered her mouth in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed."

"It is kind of funny," Arizona conceded. "But that wasn't the only thing." She recounted all of the instances of the girls singing the songs that they'd learned from Cristina. By the time she finished, they were both laughing.

"I'm surprised Vivian didn't want to know why a snake wanted big butts," Callie said laughing again over the hamburger buns dispute. She wiped moisture from the corner of her eye. She hadn't laughed so easily in a long time.

She has such a cute laugh, the way her eyes crinkle at the corner. It's so easy and comfortable with her. Arizona mused, captivated by the way Callie brushed her hair out of her face. "I was afraid she would because I don't have an answer for that."

Callie took a deep breath. "So, about the party? Where is it and when?"

"Two o'clock at my parents' house. I'll send you the address. They're hosting it because I've got the surgery tomorrow with Addison and I knew I wouldn't have time to get the setup done."

"Any suggestions for presents?"

"Oh, you don't have to bring anything."

"Of course I do, Arizona!"

"If you insist, then nothing big or expensive, please," Arizona replied, touched that Callie not only wanted to attend the party but was also stressing about the perfect gift.

They stopped their talk of birthday presents when they reached the girls who were already on the swings. As they pushed the girls, switching back and forth between the girls, they chatted about work and anything else they'd missed talking about over the past few days. Both ladies marveled how easy it was to talk to each other and how much they had missed the other the past week.

Their respite from the hospital was all too brief and they were soon walking back. Both girls insisted on holding Callie's hands as they crossed the street. She's a natural with the girls, Arizona thought. They are as enamored with her as I am. She stopped suddenly on the sidewalk. Does this mean I'm ready to date again? Do I want to date anyone or just Callie?

"Mommy, keep up!" Cam yelled when she noticed her mother had stopped walking.

Callie brought the kids to a stop and waited for her to join them. "Yeah, mom, keep up," she teased with a wink and a smile.

Arizona chuckled. It was all too easy to imagine Callie as a permanent fixture in their lives, but was that what she wanted? A big part of her screamed yes.