"Oh god, I've missed you." Arizona sighed in relief as she got in her bed. It has been another long day and Sofia didn't make it any easier by being cranky when she tried to put her young daughter to sleep. Once the girl was down she went straight into her bathroom and made a nice bubble bath and soaked for a full twenty minutes. When she got out it felt like the day washed away and she was ready sleep. She checked her phone one last time to set her morning alarm and noticed she missed a text from Callie a few minutes ago. Instead of replying via text she took her chance with a FaceTime call hoping to see the face she missed so much.
"Hey you." Callie answered with a sleepy smile after a few rings. "You look mighty cozy in bed." The brunette herself was already lying in her own bed.
"I am." The blonde responded by sinking deeper under the covers. "How are you? I've missed you."
"Tired, so very tired." Callie yawned. "I feel like we haven't seen each other in weeks."
"That's cause we haven't. Our first basement rendezvous was weeks ago. Residents have crazy schedules and mine has been jam packed too."
"Then I had to cancel our dinner last week cause an emergency came in right as I was walking out. Bailey says some of the best times to learn is during an emergency, so I had to stay."
"Of course, I understand. Plus she's right." The blonde agreed. "What are you doing this weekend?"
"Sleeping." Callie answered without hesitation. "I don't think I've had a full two days off since I started."
"Yeah, that's resident life. It'll get better…a little." She grinned. "Well hey, if you're up for it I'm taking Sofia out tomorrow night for pizza and arcade games if you want to join us." Arizona had been thinking about inviting Callie out to meet her daughter for a while now. With Callie now living here she thought it would be nice if they met, and it would allow for Callie to come over to the apartment so they could spend more time together.
"Yeah?" Callie's eyes perked up. "Wait, isn't her party this weekend?"
"It is, but that's on Saturday. Tomorrow it's just us, pizza, and arcade games. You should come it'll be fun. I want you to meet Sof."
"Well I really want to me her." Callie smiled. "If she's anything like you she must be wonderful. Does she know about me?"
"Truthfully, no. It's just been me and here for years. Even when I was casually dating I never bought anyone home. I want her to know she has my full attention all the time, but you're worth meeting. I want her to know you." Arizona replied honestly. "I like you, Calliope."
"I like you too, Arizona." Her sentiment hung in the air as they just stared at each other through the phone. "So what time should I meet you?"
"7:30. I'll send you the address. It's not too far from the hospital."
"Can't wait." The brunette rolled over in her bed.
"I'll let you get some rest, you look tired babe."
"No, no. I want to hear about your day. I've got ten more minutes in me. Start from the beginning."
"You sure?"
"Definitely. Now let's hear it. I bet it started with getting coffee with Teddy."
"Oh you know me so well."
"Alright so that was one water, one lemonade and one large pizza. Half cheese and half pepperoni. Can I get you ladies anything else?"
"No, that's it. Thanks so much." Arizona folded her menu and handed it back to the waitress.
"Thank you!" Sofia cheesed to the young lady. "Mommy, can I go play now?"
"Hey, don't you want to talk to your mother? How was school?" Arizona asked her daughter who sitting across from her in the booth. "What did you learn today?"
"Mommy, we talked about school in the car. I wanna play games before the pizza comes."
"You can play as many games after we eat. Let's talk about your party tomorrow? You excited?"
"Of course! All my friends will be there and I get to eat lots of cake and lots of ice cream." She could hardly contain her excitement. "Will auntie Teddy be there?"
"She wouldn't miss it for the world. Auntie Miranda is bringing Tucker too."
"Yes! Did you get the bubble machine?" Sofia asked with her big hazel eyes. "Cause I wanna have a bubble run?"
"Bubble run?"
"It's when you chase all the bubbles around before they hit the ground." The young girl answered without looking up from her coloring sheet.
"If you want a bubble run, we'll have a bubble run. Of course I got it. It's what you asked for."
"I know but sometimes you forget things."
"Mommy can be forgetful sometimes, but your party is at the top of my mind."
"Here are you drinks, ladies." The waitress placed each drink before them. "Your food will be out shortly. In the mean time you can get tokens for all the game machines in the front of the room."
"Mommy we need tokens!"
A few miles away Callie was in the middle of Joe's crowded bar trying to sneak away. "Everyone raise your glasses!" Jo started as the other residents crowded around her with raised cups of beer and other mixed drinks. "Cheers to us for surviving our first month of surgical residency. Even though we barely sleep and barely eat, we are changing the course of medicine already!"
"How many has she had already?" Steph whispered to Callie. "Cause I'm pretty sure all we do is put in IV lines and help with MRI scans."
"Just let her go with it." Callie said.
"We are doctors. We save lives!" Jo continued. "Cheers to us. We deserve it!"
"Cheers!" The whole group roared as everyone chugged their drinks.
"Alright ladies, what are we getting into tonight? I say a few more drinks here, then we hit a bar across town. Change of scenery is always good." Jo said coming over to Callie and Steph.
"I'm down for it. You in Callie?" The curly head doctor asked the brunette. "Okay, you've been checking your phone all night. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I just think I need to go home and get some rest. I've been exhausted all week." Callie lied. Her phone said 7:55 and she knew she was late to meet Arizona and Sofia. She fired off a quick text letting her know she was running a little behind.
"Sleep tomorrow. Let's get some drinks and have fun. We've been strictly business all month. We can sleep in late tomorrow then go out for brunch or something." Jo took Callie's phone from her. "Listen, you get this back after one more drink."
"Jo, come on. Give me my phone."
"I'll keep it safe I promise. One more drink then you can go. We never get to hang out outside of the hospital."
"She has a point." Steph said taking another sip. "I never do this, so this is the only time I'm going to say this. ANOTHER ROUND ON ME!" All the residents cheered and headed straight to the bar to put their orders in. "One drink. That's it."
"Fine. One more." Callie gave in reluctantly. "That's it."
"That's it." Jo smiled. "Let's get Torres another drink, but first you have to finish off your first one."
"Is your friend still coming, mommy?" Sofia asked as she chomped down on a slice of cheese pizza. "I wanna meet her!"
"She said she was. I got a message that she's running a little late, but she'll be here. She's a doctor too."
"Does she have busy schedule like you?"
"She does." Arizona answered passing her daughter a napkin. "I'll call her one more time." Putting the phone to her ear she hoped to hear Callie's voice on the other side, but all she got was voicemail. Her message earlier was a little vague, only saying she was running late. Arizona would've appreciated a few more details. Hanging up, she saw that it was 8:20 and began to think Callie wasn't going to show.
"Do you think she'll play games with me?"
"I bet if you ask nicely she will." The blonde took another bite of her pizza. "You know what, you can ask her yourself."
"I am so, so, so sorry I'm late." Callie said running over to their booth. "Arizona, please—"
"It's fine, Callie." She responded knowing full well it wasn't fine. She slid over on her side to make room for Callie to sit. "Sof, this is mommy's friend Callie."
"Hi Callie. I'm Sofia Robbins!" The brunette took in the cute appearance of the young girl before her. She had jet black hair with hazel brown eyes and a missing tooth right in front. She didn't see much physical resemblance of Arizona, but the perkiness and mannerisms were just like the blonde's. "We saved you pizza. Do you like cheese or pepperoni?"
"It's so nice to meet you, Sofia. I've heard many great things about you. I even heard you have a birthday party soon."
"I do! I do! It's going to be amazing!" Sofia gushed. As they continued to make small talk Arizona took in the appearance of Callie. It was obvious she wasn't coming straight from the hospital because her hair was curled nicely, she had on tight black jeans, a V-neck t-shirt, and a leather jacket. Then it hit her, the scent of alcohol coming from her and the glassy look in her eyes. Annoyed, hurt, confused, Arizona didn't know what to think, but she wasn't happy.
"Hey Sof how about you go play that dance game right over there where I can see you." Arizona slid some tokens across the table to her daughter. "I think these should be enough."
"Yes! I love that game. Bye Callie." The young girl hopped out her seat and jetted off towards the game.
"Arizona, I'm so sorry I'm late. I tried to get here earlier, but I just got caught up." Callie pleaded with the blonde who was looking directly at her.
"Are you drunk right now?"
"What? Arizona, I—"
"Just answer the question, Callie. Are you drunk right now? Please don't lie to me because I can smell alcohol on you. I know you're smart enough to not come to meet me and my daughter drunk." Callie could hear the hurt in her voice as she asked the question.
"Arizona I promise you I'm not drunk. I had two beers, so I'm a little buzzed, but I swear to you I'm not drunk."
"Where were you?" She asked tightly.
"All the residents went out to celebrate making it through our first month. I lost track of time. I tried to get here earlier, but I couldn't."
"What do you mean you couldn't? You're a grown ass woman. Was someone physically holding you back?"
"No, I just….listen I don't have a good excuse, I'm sorry. How can I make it up to you?" She put a hand on her thigh thankful Arizona didn't move it away.
"It's not just me, it's Sofia. She was asking about you. This wasn't how the first time you meet her was supposed to go. You don't show up buzzed to meet a seven year old. Luckily for us she can't tell, but that's not the point. I expected more you from, Callie. I don't let Sofia meet just anyone."
"Let me make it up to her. I can come to the party tomorrow and—"
"You can't come to the party." Arizona said harshly. "Sorry, it's just that there will be people from the hospital and some of my family is coming in town. The party just isn't good." She took a minute to compose herself. "Do you want this? Do you want us? Honestly, tell me if you do. I know it was easy and fun with all the texts and a few hot meet ups, but if you're going to be living here and working at the same hospital I need to know how serious you are about us. You're in a different place of your life, you're younger…"
"Hey, don't play the age card." Callie shot back.
"It's not a card." Arizona replied while keeping a watchful eye on her daughter. "It's reality."
"You know that's never been an issue for me and it won't be. Yes, I want there to be an us. I haven't thought about anyone else since Miami. I think we both know we connected there. I want to be with you. I know you come with a daughter. That's fine with me."
"I'm not asking you to be a parent, we're not even close to having a conversation like that, but I just want you to be present with us. I know Sofia, once you meet and talk to her you'll fall in love. It's my job as her mother to protect her heart. I can take heartbreak, but she can't."
"I'm here." Callie said firmly. "I'm in this."
"Good." For the first time tonight they shared a smile as a huge relief washed over both of them. By far this was the deepest conversation they've had to date. "Come over tomorrow after the party. Make sure to bring a gift, she loves gifts."
"I'll be sure to. Can I ask you a question about her?" Callie said looking at the young girl dance to the upbeat music. "It may not be my place and I respect your limits on information you want to tell me about her, but do I have to worry about a jealous ex-girlfriend who thinks I'm taking her place or something?"
Arizona chucked to herself, "No, but I'll explain more tomorrow night."
"Okay." Callie reached for a slice of pizza, but Arizona pushed the food away.
"Oh no pizza for you right now. First I want to see you battle my daughter in a dance game while buzzed."
"Pshh, that's easy, plus it's practically worn off. Once I did a whole dance routine to a Beyoncé song while drunk. This will be a piece of cake." Giving the blonde a kiss on the cheek, she excused herself from the table to go join Sofia.