"here goes nothing" with the thought she knocked on the door.
Hearing the knock Arizona quickly switched off the TV and reached the door to open it. Similar to Callie she also took a few deep breaths before opening the door.
"CALLIE! HI!" Arizona exclaimed louder than usual as she opened the door.
"HEY, YOU! HOW ARE YOU" Callie replied equally loud.
Realizing that they were acting weird both of them chuckled on their silliness
"You... look lovely," Callie said, complimenting Arizona's red knee-length dress
"Oh thanks… you as well… purple really suits you," Arizona said commenting on the Callie purple blouse with black midi.
"Why thank you, Dr Robbins… ready for the date" Callie chimed in
"Ready as I can ever be Dr Torres… Lead the way" Arizona replied
As the drove in Callie's Car towards the Restaurant, an awkward silence filled the space for a while, then the conversation started on the most convenient topic between them- Sofia. They discussed how thoroughly Sofia is enjoying the camp and loving her dance and painting classes. As they reached the restaurant Callie went up to the reception to enquire about their reservation.
"Hola! Mesa para 2 Bajo el nombre de Torres (Table for 2 under the name Torres)" Callie asked in her fluent Spanish. Arizona felt something in her heart when she heard Callie speaking Spanish which reminded her how sexy she used to find Callie when she would speak Spanish.
The Hostess looked under reservation "Bienvenida senorita Torres" escorted them towards the table "Por Favor" she said gesturing towards their reserved table.
The restaurant has indoor as well as outdoor sitting and Callie has reserved the outdoor seats as it will be less crowded and less noisy. After they both were settled in their respective seats the waiter handed them the Menu.
"What would you like to have," Callie asked.
Arizona was reading the name of the dishes and their explanation with such a concentration and frown that she failed to notice how intently Callie was staring at her. After a few seconds Callie asked again "Arizona?" which broke her concentration.
"huh?" Arizona asked looking up at Callie.
"Are you planning to bore a hole in the menu with your eyes?" Callie joked
Arizona gave her silly toothy smile which made her blue eyes sparkle even more "Sorry! I was trying to understand Some words here" Arizona said shyly, and Callie laughed hard.
"Why don't I just order? I know your taste" Callie said
"Phew! That would be better, otherwise, I will order something which neither of us will be able to eat." Arizona replied laughing.
Callie called the waiter and place the order for food with some cocktails. While waiting they both dwelled internally on how to start the conversation.
"How come in 7 years you never learned even a little Spanish" Callie said after some time
"Hey! I learned… I know Spanish" Arizona defended.
"Really! Let's hear it…" Callie coaxed
"I know... Vamanos is let's go… and Por Favor is please and…" Arizona tried to list the words she knows and understand.
"Come on! Everybody in America knows them" Callie laughed hard on Arizona's failed attempt to defend her knowledge of Spanish.
"I also know 'te quiero' (I love you)" Arizona countered
"Yeah! Only because I said it to you everyd-"
Both women shifted uncomfortably on their seat, again unaware of how to diffuse the awkwardness.
"Well, you only speak it either with your family or Sofia which I don't try to listen and anytime you spoke in front of me, is when I asked you to during s-" Yet again Arizona's habit of rambling got the best of her and instead of diffusing the uneasiness, she made it even worse "Way to go Robbins," Arizona thought berating herself and her verbal diarrhoea.
Fortunately, the awkwardness was broken by the arrival of food and for the next few minutes, none of them said anything and concentrated on eating.
After a few minutes of silence, Callie asked, "Did you like your Mole Rojo?"
"mm-hmm its really good…" Arizona replied.
After than conversation flowed naturally. They discussed Callie's research. Arizona told her about the delay in fitout due to a busted pipe and about the new staff they have hired. After the dinner, Callie went to meet the manager to convey her gratitude for accommodating them at such short notice. The manger was floored by Callie's humbleness. After much persuasion and a threat that Callie will never return to this place if he didn't give the bill, he reluctantly asked his staff to take the money. Arizona was standing two steps back observing the scene taking place in front of her. She always loved how humble and self-made Callie was. Even with millions in her account and her father's connection she never took advantage of it. Seeing Callie in her form always gave Arizona a sense of pride. She was lost in her thoughts and didn't realize that Callie has returned.
"Hey! where did you go?" Callie asked looking at pensive Arizona.
"Huh! Nothing I was just thinking something" Arizona replied timidly.
After valet bought Callie's car, they both decided to go to the park instead of anybody's home as it was only 9 o Clock. Parking the car in her building parking Callie and Arizona walked to the park. After strolling for a while and making small talk about weather and tax returns they decided to sit on the bench with an ice-cream they bought from the vendor nearby.
"I guess this is it?" Callie said unintelligently
"Huh!" Arizona asked.
"Now it's the time to pop the bubble and start the talk?" Callie said with a nervous smile
"Oh! Yeah!... frankly, As much as I was in support of having the talk, I am actually quite terrified" Arizona confessed.
"Yeah?" Callie asked and Arizona nodded "Oh Thank God! I thought I was the only one" Callie chuckled nervously.
"Are you okay with this?" Arizona asked with uncertainty.
"To be honest I am not excited about it, but I know it's important to you and for us to build a strong relationship." Callie said, "Look at this way, as soon as we'll have the 'talk', the sooner we will clear our differences, the closer we will get to being 'us'… again," Callie said, gently taking Arizona hand in her.
This small gesture made Arizona smile widely "You, Calliope Torres are the smoothest talker I have ever met… any time I get doubts on us, you wash them away with your sweet talks… and I fall for it every damn time… how do you do that" Arizona asked squinting her eyes playfully.
"it's all part of ole Torres charm… I told you I am a complete package" Callie said with a wink
"… oh, and so modest as well!" Arizona said sarcastically rolling her eyes.
The mood and environment were set for the 'talk' now the question was, where to begin with. There was so much to discuss, so much to ask. Now and then one of them will open her mouth to say something but stops without saying anything.
"I guess we are putting too much pressure on it," Arizona said
"Right! I guess I am scared because the last time we were forced to talk about our issues, it was a disaster, I am scared that it will happen again." Callie confessed.
"It won't!" Arizona replied
"How can you be sure?" Callie asked
"Because last time we were in a different state of mind and at different pages altogether, we forgot that purpose of the counselling was to make amends in our marriage, instead, we started the blame game… this time we know what our focus is, we both want the same thing… us" Arizona concluded with a smile.
Callie didn't say anything at first, instead, she drew a deep breath and sat straighter and nodded "Tell me about you past 2 years" Callie asked.
"really? That's your first question?" Arizona asked confused.
"Yup, I am laying the foundation with a simple question, can't have the heavy stuff on the first date," Callie said.
"Fair enough! What do you wanna know?" Arizona asked
"everything, what did you do after I left? How many people you dated …how was the working in the hospital without you ex…" Callie asked adding last part as humour.
"Well, after you left it was difficult for me to handle my life without Sofia in it, I was barely starting to come in terms with a life without you and then without Sofia I felt lost and alone. After the divorce, Sofia was the only thing which made sense in my life. She was my life jacket in the ocean of my mistakes. Seeing her was the only thing which made me feel like I did something right in my life… so yeah it was tou-gh " Arizona said as her voice broke, Callie put a sympathetic hand on her thigh.
"Who was Elijah and what did you mean when you said "she ghosted you"… what's ghosted even mean?" Callie asked after a few seconds
"Thank you! Right? I thought I was the only one who didn't know what ghosted meant...wait!.. how do you know that… about... about Elijah and that she ghosted me?" Arizona asked
"Well, you told me," Callie said, after seeing the confused look on Arizona face she continued "You called me when you ate the lesbian gratitude cookie," Callie said with a grin.
Arizona gasped in shock "Noooo! I didn't …did I?"
"Yup you did, you told me about Elijah ghosting you and then you, asking Carina to stay and some other stuff which sounded like …. People make you lose your mind… in bed" Callie said with a smirk.
Arizona was mortified, she had no recollection of even calling Callie let alone, telling her about the stoned conversation she had with Maggie "I …um… I" Arizona tried to speak but failed and Callie couldn't control her laughter.
"Stop Laughing," Arizona said playfully swatting Callie's arm.
"Sorry ... sorry… but the look … on your face ….is priceless" Callie said between hiccups
"It's not funny" Arizona pouted "Okay! Fine it was little funny" she added after some time on which Callie nodded heartily.
"Elijah was Dr Minnick she was Polish, who came to revamp the surgical program" Arizona explained
"Oh! Right … I heard all attending hated her… she was making Webber look bad…" Callie said with scrunched face and then she suddenly gasped in shock "You dated her!?"
"It wasn't like that" Arizona defended loudly "She was just doing her job and she was nice to me and she made me feel something after a long time… so…" Arizona said meekly
"hey! don't be embarrassed, it's okay… you saw something in her which nobody else could… I understand" Callie said sympathetically
"well, I thought I saw something, and we had something… but then she got fired and she left without a word… I went to her apartment it was all clear… I tried calling her, but the number was unreachable… so… that's what Ghosted means apparently" Arizona said with a sad smile.
"oh!" that's all Callie could say.
"Oh well! I guess it's easier to leave me than to be with me" Arizona said incoherently, but Callie heard it.
Seeing Callie's sad face Arizona justified "No! Callie, I wasn't talking about you… sorry… I shouldn't have said that"
"No, it's okay… people who leave you are at lost anyways…. They lose something incredible"
Arizona smiled slightly understanding the hidden meaning very well "Anyways, then I met Carina at Joe's" Arizona continued, and Callie sat straighter in alertness upon hearing that name.
"She is Andrew's sister; she was the OB/GYN from Italy and started in Grey Sloan... aaanndd... she was doing her research on female orgasm," Arizona said diffidently on which Callie raised eyebrows in question.
"Really? she must be having good knowledge about…" Callie blurted out before realizing what she was asking Arizona.
"Oh Yeah! She was… gooodd!" Arizona said releasing the breath.
"Oh-kay! Too much information" Callie scrunched her face in disgust
"Anyways! We were dating, she was nice and caring and had this adorable Italian accent and an amazing perspective towards life…" Arizona said with looking at Callie.
"Trying really hard not to get jealous here" Callie interjected.
"Oh! sorry… well, we dated till the day I decided to move to New York… right after I asked her not to leave… like a pathetic little girl… I mean who does that… I asked her not to leave and then I myself left her, without even giving her a choice… that... that was horrible I know… but Sofia was so sad and crying all the time… I had to do it… I had to make the decision which was right for Sofia…I…" Arizona started her rambling
"Arizona! Breath… You are rambling" Callie interjected, she always found Arizona's rambling endearing, but she had to stop her before she passes out due to lack of oxygen.
"Oh! uh… yeah… so that's my 2 years" Arizona concluded
"You really liked her didn't you" despite her jealousy Callie asked.
Arizona nodded in response "yeah! I thought it could have gone somewhere… but…"
"But… you have to leave because a stupid decision I made…you had to face consequences," Callie said sadly.
"Hey! come on, no blames, accusations and pity talks… we are here to put everything out on the table and clear it… I am glad I am here… the smile I see on Sofia's face is worth everything… I wouldn't trade it for the world," Arizona explained
"Yeah ok," Callie said with a weak smile.
"Oh My God" Callie exclaimed Suddenly "You know what I just realized?"
"What" Arizona replied with wide eyes
"You have a type," Callie said with a huge grin.
Arizona gasped in the offence " I DO NOT!"
"You totally have a type, you like dark-haired women who can speak a different language or have an accent," Callie remarked
"What that's preposterous… I certainly do not have a type"
"Oh Arizona, Minnick could speak polish, Carina spoke Italian and I speak Spanish… which we both know you enjoy" Callie explained
"This proves nothing" Arizona defended.
"Tell me when any of them spoke in their native tongue you didn't find it sexy!" Callie challenged
"So, I have a thing for other languages… and yes, I find it sexy, it doesn't mean I have a type… It just means I love people from all around the world" Arizona countered hard.
"Sure sweetie, tell you self that" Callie laughed
Realizing that She was fighting the lost battle and that maybe Callie was right, Arizona decided to change the topic "Enough about me, you tell… why did you and Penny break up… I thought you were in …ahem…love" Arizona said, the last line left a terrible taste in her mouth
"Ha!" Callie laughed mocking herself "Love… I thought I was in love with her… but I wasn't… I mean I loved her, but I wasn't in love with her and that I realized the few months after we came here" Callie stated to explain "At first it was all happiness and joy… we sat up the house and Sofia loved her room… eventually when the "Honeymoon" phase got over… I realized that something was off, I didn't use to count the minutes until I reach home and meet her… we never snuggled while sleeping… she was not the cuddly sleeper… she was messy and unorganized and after living with Type A, compulsive cleaner-" Callie winked at Arizona who squinted her eyes in the mock offence "- for 7 years, it was a big adjustment. But I was determined to make it work so I ignored all the telltale signs and kept going… making everybody happy. It worked for a while but then it didn't. Eventually, I realized that the only reason I fell for her so fast, was because she was the opposite of you and at that time, I was running from you…as I told you earlier I started resenting her because she was nothing like you… finally, we had a BIG fight, where she made me realized how wrong I was in my relationships and that I wasn't the victim all the time… I myself had also done serious damage… I was still in denial and tried to hold on to her… but she had had enough… so she left next day… and that's it." Callie concluded and took a deep breath afterwards.
"Uff! That's… I am sorry it all went like that Callie" Arizona said sympathetically.
"It's okay… I had it coming… I reaped what I sow" Callie said with a smile " I am just glad that I got a chance to make things right now… and I am determined to do that"
Arizona nodded "Me too… I guess that's enough 'Talk' for today… I am exhausted… will continue this on our next date?"
"Yeah!... enough for one day… but I must say I am already feeling light… it was a good idea," Callie said, and Arizona smiled widely.
After their talk, Callie and Arizona decided to call it a night, and as they both lived on either side of the park they opted to walk. They walked together till the gate of the park from where their path would change. Both of them stood in front of each other and lingered back to say good night.
"I had a great time Arizona… I am glad we did this" Callie said, "Should I kiss her Goodbye?"
"Yeah, me too… I'll call you for our 2nd date" Arizona replied, "Should I kiss her?"
"So, I guess, this is it…" Callie looking at Arizona. "What if she doesn't want me too"
"Yeah…umm," Arizona said while fiddling with her keys "I want to kiss her"
"Arizona... I…" Callie swallowed the lump in her throat as her eyes flickered between pink lips and blue eyes "Just do it, Torres"
The wavering of Callie's eyes didn't go unnoticed by Arizona and her own eyes mimicked the motion
It wasn't the first time they were going to kiss each other; it wasn't even the first kiss in recent times, but the anticipation and apprehension were as good as the very first time. Nobody knew who made the first move, but now they were standing close, they could smell the sweet smell of strawberry ice-cream they were having before. Arizona's heart beat faster and faster as Callie's face came up to her own, she felt Callie breath on her lips, her lips parted just a little in response; Callie saw her eyelid flutter and then close and then their lips met, sending the tremors along their nerves. The kiss was searing yet innocent, passionate yet gentle. All the accumulated feeling of the past 7 years had transmuted into this one kiss. After a few seconds, they parted as the air became the necessity.
"Woah!" they both said together. They couldn't help but smile at the feeling
"I will wait for your call," Callie said
Arizona smiled and nodded slightly "Good Night Calliope"
"Good Night Arizona"
With that, they went to their respective home smiling from ear to ear.
A/N:
Hello Pretty peoples,
Hope all of you are happy and healthy!
As promised, I am back with a post. And this time it's not a cliff hanger. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I enjoyed writing it.
Thank you, my consistent readers and reviewers. Thank you, my new readers and silent readers. You all are the best.
Thanks for appreciating how I write Calzona's conversation. I love to write their banter.
Don't forget to review
Stay Safe!