"Yes, let's do it"
These words hung around the living room for a few seconds. Both women were looking at each other silently waiting for the other to speak. Callie was waiting for Arizona to elaborate "let's do it" whereas Arizona was waiting for Callie to respond on the same. When after at least 30 Seconds nobody spoke. Callie finally asked "Sorry! Let's do what"
Realizing that she has given a very vague sentence to decipher Arizona clarified "Oh right, lets… um, talk about it… about… um us… I promised you, we will talk… so…"
A small smile appeared on Callie's face "Really? You wanna talk about us… us as in you and me and our relationship?"
"Yes, us as in you and me and our relationship," Arizona said imitating Callie
"Thank God!" Callie drew a deep breath "Frankly when you came, and I saw your face I thought you were going to say no"
"Frankly! I was gonna say no" Arizona replied
"but…" Callie began only to be cut short by Arizona.
"-Because Callie, to say that I am scared is a huge understatement… I am…I am Terrified" Arizona breath out
"but that's okay… I am scared too… believe me, I have been going back and forth on this for a loooong time… but then I realize that I don't wanna regret "not trying at least once"… all my life… I really am scared Arizona… but I also really want us back again…" Callie said
"But Callie what if we break up again?… we have hurt each other so much in the past… why will it be different this time?" Arizona questioned
"The difference is, we are not same anymore… you have changed… I have changed… we have grown over the years... we have realized how miserable we are without each other…I mean… I have realized that… I have made many mistakes Arizona and I can't even begin to apologize for that… but still, I am standing here in front of you asking for another chance to reunite our family.. so now the question is... will you?." Callie replied, tear now flowing freely from her pleading eyes.
"Oh! Callie…" Arizona tried to say something, but the sobs got better of her.
For a few minutes, both women kept quiet, sobbing in silence. Years of pain and heartbreak came rushing through.
After a while, Arizona took some deep breath to calm herself down and took Callie's hand in hers "Callie… look at me" but Callie didn't and instead, she kept looking at her feet still weeping "Look at me" Arizona coxed again and Callie complied looking up meeting Arizona's blue orbs.
"There is nothing more I want than to reunite our family…" Arizona said with a sad smile
This simple line made Callie's heart flutter and a wide a smile appeared on her face "Really?... you would give us another chance…"
If Arizona had any doubts before, the smile on Callie's face made them go away. She would try again at least for this smile "Yes Calli-ope… let's try again"
Hearing Arizona taking her full name, on purpose this time made Callie cry even more, but out of happiness or sadness even she didn't know "Dammit!" Callie exclaimed getting frustrated by her own weeping.
"Hey, why are you crying… I thought you will be happy" Arizona said taking Callie's face between her palms.
"I am… I really am… I Don't know why I am crying… but I am happy… thank you… thank you so much" Callie said and gave Arizona a bone-crushing hug.
"Callie? If we have to work on our relation… I need to be alive… and right now I can't breathe" Arizona chuckled trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh god! Sorry... I…" Callie replied releasing Arizona from her death grip.
Even though they have come to a mutual conclusion of giving their relationship and each other another chance, they were still not sure how to move forward. So again a silence surrounded them in which they looked everywhere but each other.
"So-" They both said at the same time.
"Sorry, you go," Arizona said.
"So, how do you wanna do this. We will do whatever you want, however, you decided. We can forget the past and start again. We will never bring the past again… a clean slate? Huh?" Callie suggested
"No!, Callie, that's what broke us before. We didn't talk, we never communicated… we would let the feelings pile up and then we would explode unceremoniously on each other. Be it about my leg or about fixing us or Africa. If we are going to do this, we are going to do this right. We will talk about everything. We will tell each other everything we felt in past, all the hurt and pain that we caused each other… we need explanations for god knows how many things, answers to many, many questions… and when we will go through all this and would still want to stay together than we will tell Sofia… or anybody else...till then it's between us." Arizona explained everything calmly and slowly and at the end of the explanation Callie just nodded.
"Okay?" Arizona asked again
"Yes, okay… total honesty..." Callie replied
"Total Honesty" Arizona agreed with a nod.
"but I have a condition too" Callie said, and Arizona raised her eyebrows in question "It's not only about our past… it's about our present as well as future… I want us to be honest about the feelings in the present also. If we will get any doubt or uncertainty, we will tell each other… no matter how ridiculous or how petty the issue is. We will talk… we won't run away from each other or avoid each other… deal?"
On this Arizona smiled and nodded "Deal" and extended her hand for a handshake to seal the deal which Callie reciprocated cheerfully.
"So what are we doing… I mean are we dating or… you want us to clear out everything and then start dating?" Callie asked further
"I think we can do both simultaneously… I mean one stone two birds right. We can talk during or after our date" Arizona chimed in
"Great Idea! Very efficient Dr Robbins" Callie chuckled
"Why thank you, Dr Torres… I AM very efficient and… Awesome" Arizona said with a wink
"And very humble too I see," Callie said with a laugh.
"Oh by the way… this "not telling anyone" thing is applicable on best friends too" Callie asked "cause I kindaalreadytoldClyde" Callie mumbles the last part.
Arizona laughed and shook her head in amusement "Of course you did… but that's okay… I like Clyde"
"Really! Oh, thank god… I didn't have to go through "I hate your best friend" phase again" Callie teased.
"Hey! as long as you don't sleep with him, I am fine" Arizona teased back.
"Oh, that's one thing you will never have to worry with him" Callie replied
"Why else do you think I like him?" Arizona replied with wink and went to the kitchen to get water, leaving wide eyed Callie in the living room.
…
Next morning the trio had the breakfast together and then Callie and Sofia went back to Callie's apartment to get her pack for the camp the next day. Last night they both decided to take the first step towards each other, only after Sofia leaves for camp so that they will not have to tiptoe around her or lie to her.
On Monday morning Arizona came to see off Sofia, they were standing in front of Callie's building waiting for Camp Bus. Sofia was chatting nonstop, telling them about the classes she is gonna take.
As transport arrived Arizona and Callie bid Sofia goodbye with teary eyes and went inside Callie's apartment.
"Coffee?" Callie asked as they entered the house.
"Sure" Arizona replied.
There was a little awkwardness among them as none of them knew how to start the topic. Callie brought the coffee for Arizona and herself which they drank in silence for a few minutes.
"So…" Callie began an attempt to break the silence "What's your plan today?"
"Well, Nicole is coming so I am gonna pick her up in an hour, then I will take her to the lawyer for lease signing and other stuff… what about you? " Arizona asked
"I … have some surgery lined up for today than I promised Clyde… um… that I will meet him and tell him about the weekend" Callie replied Shyly which made Arizona laugh.
"Great So… I guess I should leave… See ya later" Arizona Said, "Should I ask her on a date?"
"Yeah… sure" Callie replied "I should ask her on a date"
"Okie then…" Arizona replied but none of them made any attempt to move towards the door.
"Yup…" "Come on Torres… do it"
"See you around…" Arizona replied, "ask her woman !"
"ARIZONA!" Callie said little louder than intended as Arizona took few steps towards the main door.
"Yeah!" Arizona spun around at once hopefully
"I… um… wo…wo…" Callie stammered "Come on say it…"
"Wouldyougoondatewithme?" Callie blurted out "What's wrong with you"
Arizona chuckled "Did you just ask me on a date?"
"Yes…" Callie said meekly not meeting Arizona's eyes.
"I would love you" Arizona replied with a broad smile.
"Phew! Great… so Friday? 6? okay?" Callie asked still maintaining one word communuication
"breath Calliope...and Friday around 6 is perfect "Arizona replied
"Okay… good luck for the week…. I will see you Friday"
"You sure will… bye," Arizona said and with that, she left.
...
During the week both of them stayed connected over a few messages either about Sofia or general greetings but they didn't get much time to talk properly. Nicole Herman has arrived on Monday and since then Arizona and she were running around the city, hiring the contractor for clinic fit-out work as well interviewing the staff for operations. By Wednesday they have hired 2 more doctors to train under them and few nurse and administration staff. Fortunately, the site of the clinic, already had a medical friendly infrastructure as it was rented by a pathology clinic before. They were adding one OR for emergency procedures and few rooms for admission of the patient. As per the contractor, the complete work along with paints and fixtures would finish in 20 days, give or take 5 days. After completing all the legal stuff Nicole went back to Seattle for final wind up, leaving Arizona in charge of the supervision.
Meanwhile, Callie told everything to Clyde first thing on Monday morning. Clyde naturally was very happy to know that his best friend was finally making the right decision and was very impressed by Arizona's approach towards the relation. Rest of the week for Callie went in haste as her xenografting research has started which demanded her full time.
None of the women thought about the date until Friday morning when the clock sitting on the side table displayed Friday in Big Red letters.
"Shit! I have a date with Arizona and I haven't even made the reservation yet" Callie woke up in a panic and picked up her phone to make the reservation at her favorite Mexican restaurant. She knew, at this short notice she can only get a reservation in that restaurant as the owner was a good friend of Carlos- Callie's Father.
After making the reservation she sent a quick text to Arizona reminding her about the date
Callie: Hey, Good morning.
A gentle reminder of your date tonight. ?
In 2 seconds of her putting the phone down Arizona replied
Arizona: Good Morning.
Oh! I have a date tonight? ?
Callie: Well, yes you have a date with the most
eligible bachelorette in New York... Me
Arizona: Really! Eligible and Humble.
How did I get so lucky?
Laughing on their banters Callie replied
Callie: haha! Are you nervous?
Arizona: Like hell I am. You?
Callie: I don't know what am more scared of
The date or the "talk" that comes with it
Arizona: Don't even remind me of that
I can't even wrap my head around what to wear
Callie: Wear anything. You look great in all
Arizona: Aw! you are such a charmer.
Callie: See! a complete package.
Arizona: Sure! this package has no work today?
Callie: Shit! I am getting late. See you in the evening
Arizona: See ya!
Arizona could actually see, Callie, running around the house gathering her stuff. After all, she spent 7 years watching her freak out the same way, almost every morning. Laughing on the mental picture, Arizona got up to get ready for the day. She didn't have much to do today other than visiting the clinic site to check on the work. She had plenty of time before her date. So she decided to hit the saloon.
…
At 5:45 PM Arizona was sitting in her living room, absentmindedly switching channels. She needed the noise to distract her from her loud beating heart. In the last 5 minutes, she had checked her watch 25 times. The restlessness was too much for her to take.
Around 5:55 PM Callie came at Arizona door. She drew some a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"here goes nothing" with that thought she knocked on the door.
Hello All,
I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Don't kill me for another cliff hanger. I am planning to post the next chapter very soon.
Thank you for the reviews and thank all silent reader. too Lots of love and wishes to you all.
Few people have asked me if I am still updating. They were guest so I couldn't reply to them. So if you are reading then please note that yes I am updating. I am determined to complete this story.
Lastly, I apologize for mistakes.
Stay Safe and healthy!