Disclaimer: I don't own the characters I just borrow them for my story
"Hello?" Clyde spoke in a hoarse voice
"SHE IS COMING!" Callie exclaimed from the other side of the line
"You Go, Torres! I knew you …. had it in you" Clyde yawned and replied with his eyes still closed.
"What? Cly… what are you talking about?" Callie asked confused
"what are YOU talking about?" Clyde asked in return
"Arizona! She is coming here …. To New York… as in shifting here" Callie said excitedly. Since the moment she has heard "I think Sofia should move back to New York with you…. and I think I need to move back with her" Callie has been over the moon. She hasn't slept all night, every time she would close her eyes, Arizona's voice would invade her thoughts. The excitement of having Sofia back in New York and the anxiety of being close to Arizona was making Callie anxious. One moment she would feel excited then a sudden fear would crawl up to her. All the exhaustion of the day was long forgotten and now Callie was on an emotional roller coaster. After spending around 5 hours twisting and turning in bed when Callie couldn't take anymore, she finally called Clyde.
Clyde's eyes snapped open "Oh wow! Torres… that's amazing… but all of sudden?... wait… what about Sofia?
"She is coming along with her you Idiot" Callie retorted playfully.
"Oh yeah! right" Clyde said and checked the time "and you are telling me this at 5 in the morning becaauusseee…?"
"I couldn't sleep… I was too amped up…" Callie said shyly realizing that she indeed called him at odd hours
"I am happy for you Torres… now hang up… I need my beauty sleep for my family… which is coming today" Clyde replied lazily
"Oh yeah yeah! … go to sleep Cly" with that she cut the call.
After hanging up the phone with Clyde, Callie realized that it was futile to try and sleep so, she finally got up and got ready for the day. She spent her whole day listing out the things she needs to do to make her family's move easier.
Around 7 in the evening when Callie was looking at the rental house listing in the newspaper for Arizona, she received a call from the said blonde women. Callie's eye lit up upon seeing the name flashing on her phone screen. Taking control on her emotions Callie picked up the phone sounding casual "Hey! Wassup?"
"Hey!" Arizona replied meekly.
"How are you?" Callie asked sensing Arizona's dull tone.
"m… ok" Arizona replied in a deadpan voice
"No! you are not sounding ok… tell me… what happened?" Callie asked, now concerned
"Nothing Callie, it was a tiring day," Arizona said dismissively
Even though Callie could sense that something was troubling Arizona, she decided not to push her "Okay… so you gave your 2 weeks' notice? I am sure Bailey would have been very upset"
"Yeah!" Arizona said shortly without looking into the Camera.
Again, Callie refrained herself from asking Arizona about her mood "hmm… So, you applied for the job here? I bet they would be happy to have a Foetal surgeon on board… which all hospital you applied to?"
Arizona took a deep breath before replying "No! I have to join as Peds surgeon, New York already has their Foetal surgeons…. I have few interviews lined up in Morristown, North Shore University and Bellevue Hospital centre, for the job of peds surgeon" the sadness and disappointment in Arizona's voice were evident.
Now, Callie understood why Arizona's mood was off but there was nothing she could say to console her. "Arizona is making sacrifices and adjustment because I… like an Idiot decided to move to New York… and now she is facing the consequences… what can I possibly say to cheer her up…" Callie thought.
"Oh..." Callie said, and after a few moments of silence, she tried to change the subject "So... How is Carina? How you guys are gonna work this?"
Arizona Chuckled sarcastically "Wow! You are gonna touch all the nerves today, aren't you?"
"...um… sorry… I didn't mean to …pry" Callie hesitated
"For your information, we broke up. Of course, if I am moving to New York… I can't expect her to be with me… neither can she move here…" Arizona spat "people don't do that for me" Arizona mumbled
Knowing very well that the last part was a blow on her, Callie chose to ignore it instead she said "If it makes you feel any better… I… umm… we… Penny and I broke up too"
Hearing that's, Arizona's head snapped up. She looked directly at her. Callie could see that Arizona is debating internally that whether she should say something or not and so, she decided to give her some time to respond.
After a few seconds, Arizona replied, "Why on earth would this make me feel better?".
"Oh… um… I mean … I thought … you broke up and I broke…" Callie tried to explain but got interrupted by now very pissed Arizona
"What? … you think that just because you broke up from perfect Penny… we are in the same boat?... huh?" Arizona snapped back
"No... I …umm"
"No…Nuh-uh… We are not in the same freaking boat Callie… No… you don't get to play this card…you think that I will be happy to know that you broke up with Penny … for whom you put us through hell…I had to live alone without my daughter because you couldn't stop sulking around in the hospital and now I will have to give up foetal surgery… I have to give up my home, friends and life here so that I can move to New York and now you are telling me you broke up with her, for whom you moved to New York, in like what… 1 and half years… and that's supposed to make me happy?" Arizona yelled
Hearing that Callie felt the anger building up in her as well "What's that supposed to mean? You went to the lawyer and caused that custody battle… I didn't ask you to move here… it's not my fault that Sofia likes it here more..."
Callie regretted the moment it came out of her mouth, but it was too late, Callie could see the hurt on Arizona's face. "Great Job Callie… way too make things worse for her… good going" Callie mentally berated herself.
"Arizona, I am sorry… I Didn't mean..." Callie tried to apologize but the damage was already done.
Arizona spoke in a calm but defeated voice "No, Callie you are right… it's not your fault… it's my fault… its always my fault… everything is… everything was" Arizona was trying very hard to control her tears. She didn't want to break down, not in front of Callie.
"Arizona… NO… listen… I am sorry… I seriously didn't mean that… I got irritated and I snapped… m really sorry… I wasn't questioning your parenting or you… you are an excellent mother and Sofia loves you very much… she misses you all the time when she is here… please don't think otherwise" Callie tried to justify herself.
Arizona hung her head and tried to control her emotions but was failing miserably. "I am not though… I am not a good mother… During the custody battle, other than Richard and Andrew nobody came in my support… They all knew me for 7 years, Callie… 7 freaking years… but they were all on your side… Cleary they thought you deserve to have Sofia more than I do" Arizona took a deep breath but Callie didn't interrupt so, she continued
"I met you within 2 months of my transfer here… after that, you were pretty much my life… you had friends here, life here… and I had only you…and then Sofia came along and I felt complete… I never knew, how alone I was until I had to ask everyone to testify for me… but now even Sofia stole money from school to go to New York and got suspended" by now all the reserves were broken and Arizona was crying openly.
"WHAT! she stole… why didn't you tell me?" Callie asked in shock
"Because it was another gold star parenting moment for me… My daughter didn't want to be with me, so she stole the money from school field trip fund…"
Seeing Arizona so devastated, Callie decided not to dwell on this subject "Arizona, that's okay… she is a kid… she is acting out… maybe it is just because she came to live with me first… she got habitual of New York… I am sure if tables were reversed, she would have done the same thing here as well. And please don't think that just because our friends testified for me and my lawyers said some not-so true thing, it means that you are not good mother… Arizona I might have given birth to Sofia but you are a better mother than I am… I have never thanked you for letting me have Sofia 2 years back… but I am forever grateful for that… I know, I couldn't have done that…no matter how much I would like to think I would have. So please don't let anyone question your motherhood, not even me. You are an amazing mother… a great friend and a great wif... were a great wife" Callie confided lovingly
Arizona shook her head sadly "Now, I have friends here, people who support me and love me, but I need to come to New York… to be alone… all over again"
"No! Arizona… you will not be alone here… Sofia will be here, and I will…" Callie said but didn't finish her sentence.
Arizona Nodded her head with a dazed look on her face but didn't respond.
After few seconds when Arizona still, didn't say anything Callie said lightly "Arizona?"
"yeah" Arizona replied, finally looking at the screen
"Do you…um… regret sending Sofia with me?" Callie asked meekly
Arizona looked at Callie for a few seconds "Do I? do I regret giving Sofia to her… I remember how sad she was when Penny had moved away, and Sofia was with me… I couldn't see her like that… all I wanted was to see her smile" she thought but didn't say any of that out loud. Instead, she avoided answering Callie's question and said "You should go to sleep Callie… it's late and I have an early shift too"
When Arizona didn't respond to her question Callie took it as yes "Of course she regrets giving me Sofia… look where it got her" Callie thought sadly
"Good Night Callie"
"Good Night Arizona" Callie replied with a sad smile
…
After the call, Callie was feeling emotionally drained. "How the hell it all got so messed up… How? You did that... that's how? … It's your own decision which caused so much pain to everyone around you… your stupid and impulsive decisions did this…" Callie started an internal debate and berated herself "You even made Arizona question her decisions and motherhood… "Callie closed her eyes as tears rolled down on her face.
A ding from her phone brought Callie out of her thoughts. It was from Arizona, with fast-beating heart Callie quickly open the message.
Arizona:
-I regret many things which I have done Callie, many decisions and many actions… but giving you Sofia, is the decision which I do not regret… never have and never will :).
A broad smile formed on Callie's face as she read the message "God! I cannot believe this woman. She is… Amazing" She thought and started to type the response at once.
Callie:
-You are an incredible human being Arizona… You amaze me every time. Thank you… for being you :)
Arizona:
-:D :DﾠThank you for being you too Callie… Good night
Callie:
-Good night … take care
With that, both ladies went to sleep with a smile on their faces.
XXXXX
Next day as Dr Callie Torres entered the hospital, there was a remarkable bounce in her steps and chirpiness in her voice which didn't go unnoticed by her colleague and now best friend Dr Clyde Goodwin.
"Cly!" Callie exclaimed at the sight of her friend
"Torres? You look rather cheerful this morning… Can it be the effect of a certain lady who is coming to New York?" Clyde questioned wiggling his eyebrows.
"Don't be ridiculous Cly, I am happy that my DAUGHTER is coming home" Callie said dismissively
"I was talking about her only Torres… Who ELSE I'll be talking about... huh?" Clyde replied with a naughty smirk which made Callie scoff.
"You are a trouble mister" Callie shook her head laughing "Anyways, when will I be meeting with Stefan and Ryan" Callie enquired.
"Patience is virtue My darling!" Clyde replied in a fake English accent making both of them Laugh.
"Come on! Clyde… I wanna meet them" Callie insisted slightly jumping on her feet.
"Ok, ok, I tell you what… come for dinner this weekend at my place… Stefan cooks an amazing Italian food… how about that?" Clyde asked
"Great, I'll be there" Callie replied cheerfully and with that, they both went on with their work.
…
Arizona has received an offer from Nicole Herman to partner up and open a centre for Women's health which would be called Robbins-Herman Centre for Women's health. This not only allowed Arizona to continue her foetal surgery in New York but also gave her a chance to embark her knowledge on to the other young doctors across the country. She called Callie very next day and shared the good news with her, which of course made Callie very happy and little less guilty.
Callie met Clyde's family over the dinner. Stefan was a man of a great sense of humour and as mentioned by Clyde he indeed cooked and amazing Italian food. Their son was also a very well-mannered boy with a beautiful smile. Seeing them happy and together made Callie miss her family and she couldn't wait to be with them.
Next 10 days were the same but yet so different for Arizona and Callie. For Arizona, time flew, it was like one day, she was deciding to move to New York and the next, she was standing at Alex and Jo's wedding venue, watching April and Mathew getting married. On the other hand, for Callie, it felt like the time has stood still, May 17th couldn't come any faster.
They both have been texting frequently in the last few days. First, their text mostly consists of 'apartment hunt', 'location of Robbin-Herman centre' and 'Sofia's admission', but eventually and unknowingly it became more casual. Now they would message each other even if there nothing much to talk about, just to say hi or to ask each other about the day. All in all, they were happy.
As the day arrived Callie was pacing in her living room "she is coming today, they are coming today… finally we'll be together… I mean not exactly together… Arizona will not live with us… we won't work in the same hospital… I won't see her everyday… wait! Why do I want to see her every day?" Callie was rambling out loud "I don't know what is going to happen… I don't even know if Arizona … all I know I got a second chance to make us a family again… and this time I am not going to screw up… Not again" with that thought Callie glanced up at the clock and frowned as there was still 4 hours to their flight. Callie picked up her phone and even though she knew that Arizona is at Alex's wedding she sent her a text.
Callie:
I can't wait to see you.
3000 miles away, a wide smile spread on blonde's face as she reads the message.
A/N: So sorry again for the delay… It has been the busiest 3 weeks of my life.
Thank you for your responses and reviews... I am glad that my New Character is well received. The wait is finally over… Arizona is coming to New York!
I don't want to make it a slow burn it kills the mood I believe… but also, I don't want it to be very fast as it won't do the justice to the story. I want to make it as real as possible.
Anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Please give reviews.
Stay home and stay safe