A/N: I appreciate the responses to the authors note question. This chapter is a bit shorter. I haven't been able to really write much lately. Arizona's final competition of the year will be the next chapter and then they will be reunited.
Has anyone else seen the rumors that Callie and Arizona will be in episode 1 next season? Not getting my hopes up, but I have seen a few posts about it on misc. FB and Insta posts.
Chapter 35
Arizona's POV
Arizona thought back to her morning in Miami. She woke up next to her beautiful girlfriend and was able to bring her comfort during a difficult time. The goodbye wasn't so bad either. Any time she was in the presence of Calliope Torres she was lucky. The moments she gets just the two of them after worshiping each other's bodies is something Arizona will never grow tired of. After a quick shower and an even quicker goodbye Arizona was back in the air. The flight was quick and smooth, just how she needed them to be. Arizona hated flying. It made her career choice interesting. She flew all over the country to play golf. She considered driving, but she would be in the car all the time. She wouldn't lie though, the flying experience that came with a private jet was something she could get use to.
Flopping down on the bed in her hotel room, Arizona let out a loud sigh. She was exhausted. The thought of golfing today was enough to make her want to cry. It was worth every single second she spent with Callie, but damn it was a long 20 hours. Rolling over she sent a quick text to Callie to let her know she was back to the hotel safely then she set an alarm. She had 2 hours to nap. 2 precious hours. Burying herself under the covers she was dozing off when she heard pounding at her door.
BOOM BOOM
"Go away!" Arizona screamed.
"Arizona Marie Robbins get your ass to this door RIGHT NOW." The voice on the other side of the door screamed.
Shooting up out of bed at the intruder she sprinted to the door. Arizona realized she left yesterday and did not tell her brother. Shit she was in trouble.
"Um..hey Tim."
"Don't you dare hey Tim me! Don't you think I deserve to know when you jet off to Miami for the night?! I was worried sick. If Carlos wouldn't have answered his phone I would have called the damn police. What the hell, Arizona!" She had never heard her brother so pissed. She knew she was in trouble and quite frankly, she didn't blame him. She would be reacting the same way. She probably would have called the police.
"Shit. Timmy. I am SO sorry. It all happened so fast. Honestly, I messed up. I am really sorry." She was not opposed to groveling at his feet at this point.
Scratching the back of his head, she could see her brother's resolve crumbling. He never could stay mad at her.
"Is she okay?" Was all he asked.
Arizona couldn't help but smile. She was lucky to have a best friend and brother all rolled into one. Plus how much he already cared for Callie and Sofia was amazing.
"Yeah, she will be" Arizona said confidently. She went on to detail her trip to her brother, leaving out their perfect goodbye. Tim agreed with Arizona about the NDA and the money, but was also glad that she hadn't overstepped yet. They both knew that Carlos needed to have his shot to resolve this first.
Looking at the clock Arizona groaned. "Thanks for interrupting my nap by the way. I am exhausted and now I have to go kick some grown men's ass." She joked.
"Your nap…? HA! You think I slept last night while you were up on your private jet shacking up with your girlfriend?" Tim scoffed. "Get ready. I will meet you in the lobby in 30 minutes." He got up and walked out the door.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Arizona found herself paired with Richard Webber for the final round. She really liked him but boy did her move slow. It was like he had never heard of pace of play before. Richard had been the must see golfer of "his time". He still had talent, obviously, but he was closer to retirement than anyone would like to admit. The first three holes were less than exciting and she felt that they should actually be on the 6th hole by now. But, Richard Webber explained how you had to "appreciate the course" and "let it speak to you". At this point, Arizona was annoyed. Yes, she respected Webber and his approach and she would never tell a fellow golfer to hurry the hell up, but she was close.
The 4th hole was one she didn't particularly care for. There was zero shade and it was hot. Also, the fact they had been golfing for an hour and a half and were only on the 4th made her want to cry. Arizona took out the course booklet while Webber went to tee off. She reassessed her game plan for the hole and signaled for Tim to hand her the driver. She watched as Webber very slowly teed off. His drive didn't have the ""umph" it normally would and that confused her. Richard Webber could drive for what seemed like miles. She chalked it up to a bad swing and walked up to the tee box. But she couldn't help but pause when she saw how slowly Webber was walking away.
"Richard. Are you alright?" Arizona asked, truly concerned.
"Yeah Robbins, I am good. Just enjoying the course." He answered sincerely.
Assuming he was just hot and tired like she was, she shook it off. She approached the tee box and squared up for her drive. Pulling back and connecting with the ball she watched it hook a little too far to the right, right into the trees. Damn it!
"You need to slow down AZ. I know you are tired but you look tight. Like you are rushing. Lord knows you have time, considering who your partner is." Tim took her driver and walked with her towards her ball.
She ended up bogeying the 4th hole putting her in an even worse mood. The next 4 holes she was able to finish with all with a par. Now that they were on the 9th she had a break. Grabbing her phone from her bag she headed off to the bathroom to take a quick break. When she looked down at her phone she couldn't help but laugh. She had a text from Callie.
I took the day off work today to watch. You mind giving me a bit of a better show? :p – Callie
Normally someone commenting on her round would make her mad, but the fact that it was Callie made her chuckle.
For someone who knows "nothing about golf" you sure have an opinion. -AZ
Well, you are my girlfriend. The magazines say so you know. You are a reflection of me after all ;) – Missing you
Arizona couldn't help but smile. This woman was something else. But, she missed her already.
Sorry boss. I will try to step it up the second half. Derek is having the round of a lifetime so no first place for me. – Miss you more
Arizona changed her shirt and headed back to the course. Checking her phone one last time she stopped in her tracks and the message she received.
Well if you don't win, I have a few ways I can make you feel better. Video chat me tonight XOXO – Callie
The photo that was attached was a selfie that showed her gorgeous girlfriend, laying in bed in her bra. Arizona felt herself get instantly hotter, which seemed impossible given the California heat.
When she walked up to the 9th hole tee box Arizona must have still been blushing.
"What's got you all flustered?" Richard asked.
"Oh, um. Nothing. Just hot out today." She responded.
Richard wasn't buying it and just laughed it off.
"Robbins, you are a terrible liar but I will let it slide. Ready to finish this thing?"
"More than ready. Today has not really been my day." She sulked.
"Robbins, let me tell you something. I have been doing this for 15 years and you are going to have bad rounds. But those are the ones you learn from. Don't tell anyone but this is my last year. I am finally stepping away to spend some time with my wife. That is why I am taking it a bit slower, soaking it all in. Next weekend is it for me. If I can give you any advice, it is slow down and learn from the bad days. You would be shocked how much more you walk away with after a bad round. You have a future in this sport Robbins. I look forward to watching you play for years to come." Richard patted her on the shoulder and walked away.
Arizona stood there a second and reflected on what Richard said. She realized she had been putting a ton of pressure on herself this round and it showed in how she played. Tim even commented on how tight she was. Deciding to just take the next 9 as they came and enjoy the honor of golfing with Richard Webber, Arizona walked back towards the course.
After she birdied the 9th and 10th Arizona found herself enjoying the day much more. Her and Richard were talking and laughing, he even gave her a few tips along the way. They made a pretty good pair and Arizona was a little bummed she would not get the opportunity to golf with Richard again. His lighthearted attitude and wisdom made this round much more fun than she thought it would be.
Approaching the 11th hole Arizona took the iron that Tim handed her. It was a short hole, one she would surely handle with ease. She was grateful that her day had turned around. She started this round really not wanting to golf due to exhaustion, but she had rallied.
"Robbins, what do you say you join a few of the other golfers and I for dinner tonight? It is sort of a farewell dinner." Webber asked.
"That would be great, Richard. Would you mind if I invited my brother? He is a really big fan of yours"
"Of course. He has really impressed people around here lately. Be careful or someone might snatch him up!" Richard joked.
Arizona just had to laugh. She knew there was no way her brother would ever leave her. She was glad to know that he had made a lasting impression. His caddy career could last a lot longer than her golf career so knowing he had choices when she decided to hang it up brought her peace.
Arizona took the offered club from Tim, not even having to glance at him to let him know what she needed. This was a shorter hole but it had a pretty drastic left hook. The wind was blowing in the opposite direction so she would have to compensate for that. She took a deep breath, pulled back, and swung through the shot. Her body was like a well oiled machine. Her eyes never leaving the ball and her hips flowing perfectly through her swing. She watched as the wind took the ball perfectly and carried it around the turn. She heard the cheering of the fans but her brother and Richard Webber made their thoughts known as well.
"Heck of a shot, Robbins." Richard stated as he patted her shoulder and walked past her.
Arizona watched as Richard hit an equally as impressive shot and they walked towards their balls chatting. That is when the topic of Callie came up.
"So I saw the ESPN interview. You are with the Torres girl? She seems nice. Hard worker."
"Yes. I am. She is both of those things and more. I am really lucky." Arizona smiled.
"Just make sure that she understands this gig. The travel, the press, everything that goes into it. Not everyone can handle that. Add a kid in the mix. It was the downfall of my first marriage. Communication is important. Make sure she knows what she is getting in to. It is the only thing that is fair to you and her." Richard seriously explained.
"She knows. But it is a conversation I plan to have multiple times. I have worked my whole life for this. I need someone who understands that."
"Robbins, let me tell you a secret…. This game won't be there forever. The right woman will be. Make sure you know what is important." Richard veered off to his ball leaving Arizona going over his statement in her head.
Arizona and Richard both were able to eagle the 11th hole. They were both just enjoying the round which had them golfing great. Arizona didn't even notice they had approached the 17th hole until Tim handed her the map of the course to discuss the hole.
"You going to be a chatty Cathy all day, or do you want to finish this thing?" Tim joked.
"Webber is actually really interesting. This has been quite the insightful day. He invited us to dinner tonight by the way." Arizona said taking the card.
"Wait…Richard Webber invited me to dinner?" Tim tried to keep it cool but was failing miserably.
"Yes Timothy. So be nice to your sister." She winked.
Knowing it was the 17th and that her and Webber were one of the last to golf, she chanced a look at the score board. As she thought, Derek Shepard destroyed the rest of the competition sitting on a very impressive 7 stroke lead. No one would catch him. Next was Alex Karev, followed by Richard Webber, and then Arizona. 4th place wasn't too bad. She was still finishing ahead of the majority of the field. If she finished the last 2 holes better than Webber, she could squeak into 3rd.
The 17th hole was a long one. Richard Webber's drive was historic so she knew he would take this hole. She watched as he teed off flawlessly. The sound of the driver hitting the ball was so crisp it would make the best golf fan weep. The man was something else. The drive easily went 350+ yards. She had to give it to him, in his old age he could hit the crap out of the ball.
Arizona approached the tee and squared up. This hole was a straight shot, just really long. Somewhere in the 550-yard range. The beautiful ocean was to her right and she took just a brief second to appreciate the view. Pulling back and swinging through the drive just sounded bad. She didn't get a hold of the ball like she wanted to and she watched as it veered a bit to the right an only fly about 220 yards. Great. Looks like it would be 4th if she was lucky. Preston Burke was right on her tail in 5th place.
She walked to her ball in silence, Tim not even considering speaking. He handed her what she needed and she was able to fire off a great iron shot to salvage the hole a bit. Another two iron shots, the second being a complete disaster found Arizona on the green getting ready to putt. Webber has birdied the hole and Arizona was now attempting to putt for par. The crowd was quiet and she took her time surveying the landscape of the green. She saw a slight dip to the right but other than that it was pretty straight forward. She stood over her ball, putter in hand, and slightly pulled back. The greens had been dry and fast all day and she had over putt a few times already. Not wanting to make the same mistake she took that into consideration. She pulled back and the gently followed through with her swing. She watched as the ball rolled, the perfect speed, towards the hole. She watched as it looked like it wouldn't have enough to make it. It stopped right at the lip of the hole. When she thought she was going to have to bogey the hole her ball slowly rolled into he hole from the lip. Breathing a sign of relief, Arizona walked over and picked her ball up. One more to go.
As they walked over to the 18th Arizona couldn't help but notice a little girl decked out head to toe in her gear. Arizona walked over to Tim and grabbed his sharpie. She approached the little girl and crouched down.
"Hi, what's your name?" She asked.
"Elizabeth." The little girl beamed. "I am a golfer just like you!"
"Oh yeah? I bet you are awesome!" Arizona enthusiastically replied.
"I am. One day, I will golf and beat all the boys just like you." The girl proudly stated.
"I bet you will. Do you want me to sign that awesome hat?" Arizona asked.
"Would you?! I love watching you golf. But that last hole was not your best." Leave it to kids to tell you exactly how it was. The little girl had to be about 8 or so.
Arizona finished signing the girl's hat and chatting for a bit. Saying her goodbyes she felt proud. These little girls were watching her and learning from her. She was going to make it her mission to win the PGA Championship next year. If she could do that, she would be happy.
Arizona and Richard went on to both par the 18th hole. It was a long day and Arizona was wiped out. She approached the score area to see how the top 5 turned out.
Derek Shepard
Alex Karev
Richard Webber
Arizona Robbins
Preston Burke
4th place, not bad. Not what she wanted of course but she could live with 4th. She felt that it made it clear that last week was not a fluke. She was here to stay and she would be competitive. Turning to her brother she was met with a proud smile.
"Great round, AZ. Considering the chaos of the last 24 hours and how shitty your first round was, you should be really proud. I know I am." Tim rubbed her head messing up her braids.
"Damn it, Tim! You could have just left it at the compliment." She whined trying to tame her hair.
"Where would the fun in that be? Decent prize money for 4th AZ. Dinner is on you!" He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and ran off. "See you in the lobby at 8!"
Chuckling to herself, she felt her pocket vibrating. Looking down at the caller ID she couldn't help but smile.
"Calliope." Arizona answered with a smile.
"Arizona." Callie replied in a flirty tone.
"How are you? Isn't it pretty late there? It is after 10 right?" Arizona asked.
"Yeah, but I wanted to congratulate you. 4th place is impressive."
"Thank you. It was not my best, but I am happy with it."
"You should be. You kicked butt and looked good doing it." Callie flirted.
"You think so I wore the pants you like hoping you were watching." Arizona replied, dropping her voice an octave.
"Oh you know I noticed. I couldn't help but think of this morning when I saw you." Callie was playing with fire and she knew it.
"Calliopeeee" Arizona whined. "Why do you have to do this to me? How am I going to go 19 days without you?"
"Well, we could always video chat….Tomorrow night?" Callie asked hopefully.
"It's a date!" Arizona eagerly replied.
Wrapping up the phone call and counting down the minutes until their video chat date, Arizona made her way up to her room. She was wiped but she was excited for dinner with her fellow golfers. She showered and got ready. Looking at the clock she headed down to the lobby to meet her brother.
