Life would have been something else.
...
They sat there for what felt like an eternity. Nobody is willing to end the hug. Years of emotions and heartbreaks were pouring out of their embrace. Arizona was clinging to Callie as if her life depends on it and Callie was holding Arizona so tight as if trying to inhale her whole.
After some time, Arizona loosened her hold, and they separated a bit, still sitting very close. They looked into each other eyes, apologizing for the years of pain caused by this whole tribulation. It was so easy to overcome that storm and yet it became the most impossible thing to do. They looked into each other's eyes and as if some invisible force pushed them towards each other, their lips met. The kiss, which started as soft and innocent became hard and passionate within seconds. Callie pushed Arizona on her back and hovered on top of her never letting go of her lips in the process. Their hands started to roam around each other bodies and the breath started to become fast and heavy. Callie's lips left Arizona's only to get attached on her jawline and then neck and then back on her lips again. Callie's hand moved towards the hem of Arizona's T-shirt and her fingers touched the soft and warm skin underneath. When she found no resistance from Arizona her hand movements became bolder, and it started moving towards her back. As soon as Callie's hand touched Arizona's waist a jolt of electricity and ran through her and as if woken from the dream Arizona pushed Callie a bit and sat up with a fast-beating heart and rapid shallow breathing. It took a minute for Callie to come out of the haze of arousal and the shock of being pushed.
"Hey! You, ok?" Callie asked controlling her breath.
Arizona avoided Callie's eye and nodded.
"Arizona! Look at me" Callie said but when Arizona didn't comply, she tried again "Look at me" she said, putting her finger under her chin and forcing Arizona to look at her. When Arizona lifted her eyes to meet Callie's there was a hint of tears in them. Callie gave Arizona a sympathetic smile, understanding the inner turmoil of Arizona.
"You don't need to do anything you are not ready for," Callie said softly still holding Arizona's face in her hand. It has been a while since she has seen such a venerable side of her ex-wife. Since the crash she only saw fierce and fighter Arizona. The roller skating, donut eating, rainbow-loving Arizona with authority issues was lost somewhere. To deal with her amputation and to fight with the life, Arizona has built up a shield around herself and behind that shield, the women Callie fell in love with, disappeared. Now after so many years, when Callie saw the insecure and shy woman, her heart broke. She pulled Arizona into a tight hug. "We will cross this bridge when we both are ready, there is no hurry and no compulsion… Okay."
Arizona Nodded slowly "Thanks Callie" she whispered in the crook of Callie's neck.
After a while, they returned to their TV show and enjoyed each other company with wine and popcorn until it was time for Arizona to leave.
"I think I should be leaving now," Arizona said.
"Oh… okay" Callie replied with a hint of disappointment.
"Yeah, big day tomorrow… in fact, this coming week is going to be a hectic one" Arizona explained "we are planning to have a soft opening coming Saturday, so I will have to make sure that everything is perfect. Plus, Sofia is coming this Wednesday so have to get ready for her too."
"Oh wow! That's… that's amazing" Callie replied feeling genuinely proud "This clinic is gonna be amazing and you are gonna be awesome."
Arizona laughed out loud "Awesome? I thought badass surgeons don't use that word."
"Well! I guess it took 9 years, but some pixie dust finally rubbed on me as well" Callie replied.
" Har..har.." Arizona said sarcastically "Okay, so I take your leave… will see you on Wednesday to pick Sofia up from school?"
"Yeah! Sure…umm… you can see me before Wednesday as well… I mean… if you like." Callie said meekly.
Arizona squinted her eyes a little and smile widely at Callie "I would love nothing more than that, but I can't promise anything between preparing for the soft opening, marketing, and legal I might not even get the time to breath let alone have a date..." Arizona said but seeing Callie's pouting face she quickly added, "but I will try." Which made Callie smile.
"Oh, by the way," Callie said while walking towards the door with Arizona "am I invited to the soft opening of the Clinic?"
"Well Dr. Torres you are on my VVIP guest list" Arizona replied with a blush.
"Oh! I am your very important person" Callie said with a wink.
"Very-Very Important, after all, you will be the one bringing Sofia to the ceremony," Arizona replied teasingly.
"Ouch! So, you mean that because I am Ms. Sofia's "driver", I get to be on the VVIP list, otherwise, I am not even IP… I am just P for you" Callie said with mock hurt in her voice.
Arizona laughed loudly "No Callie you not just a P for me … you are a very important person, and I would like nothing more than to be with you and Sofia on that day.
Callie smiles widely "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"So, see you on Wednesday then," Arizona said, moving slowly towards the door.
"Yup, we will go together?" Callie asked and Arizona nodded yes.
"Okay, bye then," Arizona said without moving and playing with her keys.
"Yeah! Bye," Callie replied looking at her feet. She wanted to kiss Arizona goodbye but due to her breakdown a while back she was not certain if that was the right thing to do.
So, after a while, Arizona moved closer to Callie and gave a small peck on lips before stepping out of the apartment which made Callie beam. Arizona left Callie's building feeling giddy. Callie on the other hand a smile that big that by the time she reached her living room her cheeks started to hurt.
…
The coming days as expected were very busy for Arizona. She was running between the clinic, event organizer, and lawyers. Being a type-A perfectionist, Arizona decided to supervise and everything by herself. Naturally, both women did not get any time to even talk, let alone meet. Callie on the other hand decided to spend more time on her research and submerged herself in that completely. Days past and Wednesday came, the day Sofia was coming back from her trip.
In the morning both women woke up with excitement. Not only their daughter was coming back from the trip after weeks, but they also they get to meet each other after so many days of Radio silence.
Around 11, Arizona dropped a message to Callie.
Arizona: leaving now, will be there in 10 minutes.
They decided to go together to pick Sofia up so Arizona was coming to get Callie. Callie upon seeing the message quickly finished getting ready and picked up the single lily stem which she bought last night for Arizona.
She went down and waited on the pavement for Arizona. At the sight of Volvo, Callie moved towards the edge of the road.
"Hey, you!" Arizona said as Callie opened the door of the Car.
"Hey, you," Callie replied with a bright smile "for you my lady" Callie offered the flower.
"Oh, Callie! Thank you so much… it's so beautiful" Arizona said giving Callie a Kiss.
"Are you ready to get our little hurricane?" Callie asked laughing.
"Like you wouldn't believe!... it's strange… when she is with me sometimes, she annoys the hell out of me… but now when she is not there to chew my ear off, I kinda miss it" Arizona replied.
"Tell me about it… I was even missing the mess she creates" Callie said.
"Can't believe she is such a grown-up now. Few more good years and then she will enter the terrible teens. I am scared, to be honest" Arizona said.
"You are scared? I feel my karma is going to come back and bit me in the ass for all the time I caused troubled for my mother in my teens… I am terrified." Callie replied laughing.
Rest of their route they covered by reminiscing about baby Sofia and how easy it was to handle her at that time as compared to now. They reached Sofia's school and waited in the Car for their bus to arrive.
Around 4:00 PM the bus carrying students arrived and the parents get together at the receiving point to meet their children. After scanning for a good few seconds Callie spotted the head of bouncing black hairs.
"Here she comes," Callie said pointing in Sofia's direction.
"Mama! Mommy!" Sofia shrieked happily as she ran towards her mother.
"Hey, baby girl!" Arizona said, hugging Sofia tightly.
After greeting Arizona Sofia moved to hug her mommy.
"Ah! I missed you bug" Callie said lifting Sofia up "you got so big and heavy… did you eat the whole deer in the camp? Callie said teasingly making Sofia giggle.
"Mommy I am a big girl now; I know how to roller skate like mama" Sofia replied excitedly on which Callie rolled her eyes and Arizona gave Sofia a big High Five.
"God! Not you too" Callie replied shaking her head "If she gets hurt you are taking care of your daughter," Callie said pointing at Arizona.
"Ah! Huh!... so, when she gets in trouble, she is MY daughter" Arizona said squinting her eyes.
"Yeah! because this perkiness and dare-devil-ness is all you" Callie teased Arizona.
"Oh yeah! And when she gets awards and recognitions then she is your daughter… right? Arizona rebutted lovingly.
"Of course! Who else? Callie replied laughing openly and getting a shove on the shoulder from Arizona.
After talking to the teachers and some parents the trio got into the car to go home.
The way home monopolized by Sofia's chatter. She spoke at thousand words per minute speed and told every little detail of her camp from horse riding to roller skating. About all the friends she made and the songs they sang every night- all three verses of each song.
By the time they reached home Sofia was almost dozing off at the back seat.
"Still missing her talks," Callie asked they parked the Car near Callie's building
"Not really… No" Arizona joked "Uff! That girl can talk for days".
"She is your daughter" Callie teased again.
"Yeah! Yeah!" Arizona said sarcastically as they woke Sofia up and went to Callie's House.
After the early dinner where Sofia, who regained her energy because of the power nap in the car; demonstrated all the stunts she learned in roller skate and showed them the new dance moves, Arizona bid adieu to the girls and left for her home. Callie wanted Arizona to stay the night, but they have not discussed what and when to tell Sofia yet.
…
The next few days Arizona was busy with the clinic as the ceremony was on Saturday and there was still so much left to do. Naturally, there wasn't enough time for Arizona to give to her girls and Callie and Sofia were nothing but supportive of her. Callie had taken some time off to spend with Sofia as from next week Sofia's school was about to open, after which they would be back to their normal routines.
On Friday, a very panicked Callie face-timed Clyde.
"What's up, Torres?" Clyde asked.
"I don't have anything to wear," Callie replied.
"Huh?"
"For tomorrow, for Arizona's clinic opening, I have nothing to wear, everything I own is either too tight or too loose or too old fashion. What am I gonna do" Callie said unnervingly.
"Okay, okay… first Take a deep breath," Clyde said and Callie complies.
"Good. Keep taking a breath, I don't want you to pass out due to lack of oxygen" Clyde only half-joked.
"It's not funny, I need to look good, It's the biggest day of Arizona's life, and I need to look good," Callie said, and Clyde looked at him confused.
"Oh, shut up! You won't understand" Callie said dismissively.
"Fine! Are you free in the evening?" Clyde asked "I have one more surgery scheduled at 4, I might be free by 7 I believe" he added.
"Yeah, I am Free" Callie replied.
"Great so will go and buy something for you for tomorrow" Clyde replied.
Listening to this Callie relaxed a little but continued her rambling "Yup, that's… that's a good idea… I will buy something… something good… something that says… I am looking good because I support you… I am here and I am proud of you."
"You know what else can say those things?" Clyde asked, "YOU, with your mouth, you can say those things to her"?
"Suck it Clyde" Callie rebuked
"Hey, play nice Torres… if you need my help… or else find someone else" Clyde replied with squinted eyes.
"Fine!" Callie said with a clenched jaw which made Clyde laugh out loud.
After the surgery, around 6:30 Clyde rung up Callie and arranged to meet at the shop.
Sofia and Callie entered the shop and saw Clyde already talking to the salesperson while examining the dress in his hand.
"Cly!" Sofia exclaimed.
"Hey, kiddo," Clyde said giving Sofia Hi-five "look at you, you have grown so much in a month" Sofia let out a giggle.
"Torres, about time, I was beginning to think that you bailed on me," Clyde said to Callie while giving her a hug.
"Ms. Sofia here was throwing tantrums, on what to wear" Callie whispered shaking her head.
"Ha! Kids!" Clyde smirked, and Callie nodded in agreement.
"Anyways! Let's get me a dress" Callie said excitedly.
Finally, after trying almost all the apparel in the store, Callie chose the dress she liked with great help from Clyde.
"You know what? Today I realized, how great it is to have a Gay best friend" Callie said during the pizza treat they gave to Clyde as a thank you.
"Oh yeah? Why is that?" Clyde asked with raised eyebrows.
"Cause unlike most straight men, Gay men have better taste, and they don't yawn when you show them the dresses you try on… aaannd… they understand the difference between mauve and purple" Callie joked.
"Touché!" Clyde replied laughing.
"By the way, somebody gonna get some tomorrow" Clyde whispered away from Sofia's innocent ears "once she sees your dress?"
"God! Clyde!" Callie hissed give Clyde her Torres glare.
"What?! The dress you chose is gonna blow Robbins's mind" Clyde said nonchalantly.
"Shut it! It's nothing like that … I just want to look good tomorrow and we are not there yet" Callie replied.
"I know…hats why I am getting you there" Clyde replied with an eye roll.
"Can we please change the topic" Callie replied gesturing towards Sofia, who was playing the game on Callie's phone.
"Fine! let's go then. I need my beauty sleep, I too need to look good tomorrow" Clyde replied.
"Why do YOU have to look good tomorrow?" Callie asked narrowing her eyes "It's Arizona's event."
"Well, top-class surgeons will be there I need to make a good impression" Clyde replied.
"Hmm! That is what I was wondering, Arizona invited the top-class surgeons only. So why in the world did she invite you" Callie teased, trying not to laugh.
"Ouch!" Clyde said pretending to get hurt "alright! ortho goddess, I can say the same thing about you as well."
"Oh please! As you said I AM ortho Goddess plus I am her girlf-…. ahem… - the mother of her child… and we are dating…obviously I am invited" Callie replied, secretly praying that Clyde didn't catch her slip of the tongue.
"Girlfriend!" Clyde exclaimed grinning brightly "did you just say girlfriend, Torres?" Callie closed her eyes in embarrassment.
"No… no…. no, I… did not say that" Callie tried to clarify "I said mother of her child…ahem… I think you need to get your ears tested Dr. Goodwin."
"Mmhmm!" Clyde said looking Callie up and down and smirking.
"Will you please let it go? Please!" Callie pleaded.
"Alright, Torres! I'll spare you… but I will never forget that, and I will keep this as ammunition for a bigger fight… hu ha ha ha" Clyde said with a fake villainous laugh.
"How are you a father of a 13-year-old and so immature… I will never understand" Callie said shaking her head.
"You are the one sitting here, thinking about the way to impress your "Girlfriend" as a teenager… and I am immature… sure" Clyde teased back.
"she is not-"Callie began to rebuttal but decided against it instead, she said, "I think we should leave now" Clyde laughed hysterically from the side.
"I will see you tomorrow," Callie said to Clyde.
"Yup, I'll be the one in blue" Clyde replied still trying to stifle his laugh.
"I don't care," Callie said but at last gave him a smile "Thanks for today" She added standing up and giving Clyde a hug.
"Sofia! Say goodbye to Clyde" Calli told Sofia.
"Bye, Cly…" Sofia said waving her hands.
"Bye kiddo"
…
On Saturday morning Arizona woke up very early. She could not sleep a wink last night. The nervousness of today's event caused her to twist and turned the whole night.
After double-checking everything for the event, she went for her usual walk in the park.
"Everything comes to this point today," Arizona thought "all those months of the fellowship, which took a toll on my marriage, all those times I stayed away from my daughter to learn the methods of fetal surgery… all the weekends shift, and sleepless nights, sacrifices, struggles, and downfalls, have all come to this moment, this center." Arizona took a deep calming breath "I hope it was worth all of this."
After her morning walk, she came back and went to take the shower. Once she came out and got ready, she received a message from Callie.
Callie: good luck for today, be proud, all of your hard work has paid off and you deserve every bit of it
Reading this a bright smile spread on Arizona face "it was worth it,"
…
When Callie woke up in the morning, she knew Arizona would not have slept the whole night and she wanted to say something to show her support and encouragement. So, she sent a quick text to Arizona and waited for her reply.
Arizona: thank you, Callie ?. Tbh I could not sleep at all last night.
Callie: Yeah! I guessed… do not worry everything is gonna be great.
Arizona: Thanks, see you at the event.
Callie: Can't wait!
..
Around 6 Callie and Sofia got ready for the event and head out to the venue. When they reach there, they found was a huge queue of cars in front of the center's building. Eventually, after giving her keys to the valet and showing their VVIP invitation, Sofia and Callie got inside and searched for their favorite blond.
Arizona was talking to some press people along with Nicole when her eyes landed on a Latina, her Latina. As she looked at Callie, her heart skipped a beat, when she saw how gorgeous Callie looked. She was wearing a red ankle-length strapless dress which was complimenting her curves at all the right spots. For a second, Arizona forgot that she was giving the interview and gawked at Callie.
"Excuse me, Dr. Robbins," The journalist said.
"Huh! Sorry, what were you saying?" Arizona replied coming back to her senses.
"I was asking if you have plans for opening the branch of this clinic at other places in the country" the Journalist repeated her question.
"I … umm…" Arizona replied coherently "you know what, just excuse me for a second," She said to the journalist and turned towards Nicole "why don't you answer some of the questions, I just attend some guest," she said and left to meet her family.
"Hey, Arizona said approaching Callie and Sofia.
"Mama!" Sofia shrieked excitedly and when Callie turned towards her mouth went dry.
Arizona was wearing a turquoise off-shoulder dress which was complimenting her eyes, She had straightened her hairs for the occasion, and to Callie, she was looking breathtakingly stunning.
"Hi!" Arizona said shyly to Callie after giving Sofia a hug.
"hey, you" Callie replied planting a kiss on Arizona's cheek.
"You… umm… look amazing," Arizona said, a blush creeping up on her cheeks.
"Me? Look at you… to are dressed to kill" Callie replied shocking herself with this bold line which made Arizona blush even more.
The awkward shy silence where both were looking into each other eyes was broken by their little bundle of energy "you didn't say how I am looking Mama" Sofia said supporting a pout, which brought both women to their senses.
"I am so sorry baby girl… you made me speechless with your charisma" Arizona replied trying to butter up her daughter, which worked as Sofia gave her, her toothiest smile.
After a while, Arizona got up to the pedestal for her welcome speech.
"Dear all, I Dr. Arizona Robbins am greatly honored to stand before you, on behalf of Dr. Nicole Herman and myself, to earnestly express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all of you for joining us on the opening of the Robbins-Herman Centre for women's health and to witness the effort and achievement that can only be described as dream come true- "
As Arizona gave her speech Callie could only feel proud of her ex-wife. After all the sufferings and downfalls, today Arizona has achieved something which many people can only dream about. It was her determination and perseverance which made this day possible. After suffering so much trauma in a lifetime, most people go to the other side and give up on life, but not Arizona. She took all the heartbreaks and failures and used them to energize her will and determination and today she is standing here in front of all these people and basking in the glory of her achievements.
"- at last I would like to thank Dr. Nicole Herman, for giving me this opportunity and a special thanks to my family –" Arizona said as she moved her eyes towards Callie and Sofia "- for all support and encouragement. Thank you"
Hearing Arizona thanking her for the support brought a feeling of guilt in Callie. She couldn't help but think about all those times when Callie didn't support Arizona, be it her Madison grant or the fellowship. In spite of all that today Arizona is thanking her for the support "how amazing is this woman" Callie thought.
After the speech, Arizona joined Callie, Sofia, Clyde, and Stefan, who arrived a little before Arizona's speech, for snacks and drinks. They all were talking when someone tapped Arizona on the shoulder.
"Dr. Robbin's Could we have some photos?" The journalist asks.
"Sure" Arizona replied and posed for the photos with the group.
After few photos, Arizona introduces everybody. "This is Dr. Clyde Goodwin, His Husband Dr. Stefan, this little trouble maker is my Daughter Ms. Sofia Robin Sloan-Torres and this-" Arizona said putting her hand behind Callie lightly "- is Dr. Callie Torres, My Girlfriend– "
dun dun dun!
A/N: Hey you all, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Don't forget to leave your reviews, it keeps the motivation high.
In the other news: it's officially the worst year for me. First, I met with an accident and broke my arm early in the year. Now last week I contracted COVID-19. So last few days went in that. Thankfully I didn't have to go to the hospital… just a house arrest but recovery is a bit**. I am feeling better now and will be out of quarantine in few days.
I hope all of you are healthy and Safe.
I Will update soon. till then take care.