A/N: Sorry for the delay. I wasn't quite sure what direction I wanted to take the story. Also, I did change the POV about halfway, FYI.
"Doctor Robbins?" The blonde surgeon had taken a brief pause to gather her thoughts once more and the orthopedic surgeon noticed something was off, "Doctor Robbins, are you alright?"
Shaking her head, she straightened her stance, "Yeah, sorry. I wanted to ask you—well I heard about the patient you lost earlier. The one doctor Torres was performing on." The older gentleman cocked his head to the side curiously and crossed his arms over his chest, almost defensively.
"Yes, that did happen, a very unfortunate situation. Doctor Torres is still very young and only a few months into her residency, I'm sure she will learn from this. She handled herself professionally in the OR, was paying attention, asking the right questions. As you know, sometimes things are just out of our control."
"I'm not entirely sure that's true for this circumstance." Arizona sternly replied, "It has come to my attention that you—"
"Ahhh, Doctor Greene, I've been looking all over for you." Chief Webber announced as he walked down the hall to the two doctors. "I need to have a word if you don't mind. Hello Doctor Robbins." He nodded at the fetal surgeon. The two men began walking away until the Chief stopped and turned back to Arizona. "Robbins, have you seen Doctor Torres?" He asked lowering his voice.
"No sir, not since earlier in the day. Is everything okay?"
"It will be. I'm thinking of calling a staff meeting after the holiday. This is a teaching hospital and some doctors are playing favorites. We can't have that. It's gotten a little too relaxed around here and that is partly my fault. I hope you have a good Thanksgiving." Leaning in close, he lowers his voice, "It's rumored that you and Torres are involved, and while I have my own thoughts about that, I hope you two have a good holiday together." With a warm smile, he gave her a pat on the arm and caught up with Doctor Greene as they walked away.
Desperate to get out of the hospital to see her girlfriend, Arizona went to the attending lounge to gather belongings. As she headed towards the automatic double doors at the front of the hospital, she tried calling Callie, but her phone went straight to voicemail, "Come on, Callie. Pick up." She murmured to herself.
"I was beginning to wonder if I would see you before I left." Callie opened her apartment door with a soft smile, "I'm just finishing up some packing." Closing the door behind her, Arizona followed her girlfriend into her bedroom. As far as she could tell, her roommates were not home.
Grabbing her glass off the top of her drawer, Callie took a sip of wine, "You thirsty?" The brunette offered her glass, but the blonde turned it town. Clearly she had a glass, or two, already. Understandable considering her day. A black suitcase laid on the floor half packed, while the rest of Callie's clothes were scattered on her bed, taking up half of it. Arizona couldn't help but notice a few skimpy bikinis on display in bright colors.
"Do you really need a baby blue bikini for a quick family holiday trip?" Glancing at it, Callie waved off any concern.
"It's South Beach, baby. You always need a sexy bathing suit."
"Well it's not much a suit if you ask me." Arizona quickly retorted, though she was slightly annoyed, this wasn't the conversation she wanted to get into right now. "Listen, I want to tell you something…"
"Before you say anything, can we just—" Callie paused for a moment, swirling the wine in her glass. She had one last sip before placing it on the dresser and taking a seat on the edge of the bed, "I had a bad day today, like a really bad day. I'm leaving Seattle in less than twelve hours, I'm going to be away from you, Sofia, the hospital and I'll get to clear my head a little bit. All that to say I don't want to talk, okay?" Pulling Arizona's hand gently, she guided her towards herself, "I've talked today, I've cried today, I'm over it. I just want to spend a few moments with you."
Arizona followed her girlfriends lead as Callie shifted her position from the edge of the bed to sitting back against the headboard, moving any clothes in the way to the other side of the mattress. Understanding the suggestion, the blonde crawled up onto the bed and into Callie's lap straddling her, "See, isn't this better?" The brunette offered an irresistible smile that caused Arizona to grab her by the face and plant a smoldering kiss on her lips.
"I'm sorry you had a shitty day, baby."
"It's part of the gig, right?"
"Yeah, unfortunately sometimes it is." Leaning forward, Callie captured pink lips for another fiery kiss. As soon as Arizona parted her lips just a little, Callie thrust her tongue inside the warm depths of the blonde's mouth who hungrily sucked on it. Soon their tongues began to dance together, swirling and twisting like the hundreds of times they've done before. When air was needed, the brunette pulled back and lightly bit on Arizona's lower lip before fully releasing it.
A tan hand snaked up under the blonde's t-shirt until it grasped a bra-covered breast. Within seconds that hand was under the bra cup rubbing on a hardened nipple. The two locked eyes, Callie carefully watching all the reactions on her lover's face as she continued to tease the bud. Arizona threw her head back and closed her eyes relishing in the magic touch of her girlfriend. When she tweaked the nipple one way she bit down on her lip, when she pinched it another way she let out a soft moan of appreciation.
"You like that, huh?" Callie softly asked. The surgeon hummed and nodded in response. When she opened her eyes, her girlfriend was staring right at her, smirking herself. In the corner of her eye she saw the offending item again.
That blue bikini.
It wasn't the suit that her annoyed, it's more what the suit represented. Arizona didn't want to ask, but it was bugging her. It had been bugging her for a while now and this was the tipping point. She gently moved Callie's hand away from her chest.
A confused brunette scrunched up her face in question, "What's wrong?"
"Why didn't you ask me to come with you?"
"What?"
"Why didn't you ask me and Sofia to come with you to meet your family for Thanksgiving?"
"I thought we talked about this?" Callie crossed her arms and leaned back against the headboard.
"No, not really, you talked and I listened." Arizona replied, getting up from her position and standing next to the bed, "I know you said holidays are important to you and I fully get that, but you didn't even ask if I wanted to come with you. It would've taken five minutes to book tickets. Do you not want me to meet your parents?" Arizona questioned nervously, almost worried to hear the real answer.
"No, it's not that."
"Then what is it?" No answer. "What is it, Callie?" Arizona repeated, "I thought you said you're committed to this. To us."
"You know I am, Arizona." Callie sat up hastily. "If I'm not at the hospital I'm with you. Nearly all of my free time is with you. Want else do you want?"
"I want you to move in with me." The blonde confessed. She had been trying to talk herself out of it, but deep down that's what she wanted. To make her feel more secure in their relationship and know that Callie was truly in it for the long haul, she wanted her girlfriend to move in with her. "I want to come home to you every night. I want to know when I wake up you'll be there or at least on the mornings when you're not called in." Arizona continued with a little smile, "Sofia loves you and looks up to you, I want her to have you as someone she can count on in her life. I want us to deepen our relationship as a couple. I want us to be a family. I hear you refer to me and Sof as your family and every time you do I smile."
"Arizona…"
"Look, I appreciate the time you made to call more and us taking lunches together and stuff, but I need more. I think you want more too, but I also think you're scared a little. I understand that and I will do everything I can to ease any concerns you have." Realizing she maybe said a little too much right now, the blonde took another step away from the bed and closer to the bedroom door, "I think I should go."
"You don't have to leave right now." Callie got up to face the blonde.
"I do. I just dumped a lot on you and you deserve some time to process what I just said. Plus, I just want to hug my kid right now, so I'm going to go. I love you and I want you to have a good trip." Arizona left the apartment feeling relieved and scared. Of course she was happy that she finally said what she had been thinking, but scared because she couldn't tell what Callie was thinking. Callie had the power to break her heart and that was the most terrifying thing she's ever experienced.
Callie's POV
I couldn't sleep all night. I laid awake in bed replaying everything Arizona said to me. Thinking of different scenarios and situations. I love Arizona, of course I do, but are we ready for this next step? I guess more importantly am I ready for this next step cause clearly she is. How would work dynamics change with us? Am I suddenly Sofia's second mom? I don't know how to be a mom. What about finances? Does she want to get married soon, does she want more kids? By the time I finished dreaming up every possible situation I fell asleep, but only for an hour because I had to wake up early to get to the airport to catch my flight. Luckily I was able to sleep the entire way home to Miami and as soon as the warm sun hit my skin leaving the airport I was already feeling more awake.
"Finally you're here!" Aria swung open her front door and greeted me with a giant hug, "I just cracked open the champagne for some morning mimosas! Come in, come in." Walking into Aria's home I immediately felt calm. I love my city and I love being home, there's truly nothing like it. "I'm thinking we have breakfast out back by the pool, chill at the house and then go over to mom and dad's for dinner later."
"Sounds good." Leaving her belongings by the front door, Callie followed Aria into the kitchen and took a seat at the kitchen island.
"Good flight?" Aria began pouring the orange juice and champagne into glasses.
"I think so, I slept the whole way."
"Well that helps the time go by fast. How's work?"
I took a big gulp of my drink, "I killed someone yesterday." Aria's eyes went wide, begging me to elaborate. "Okay, so I didn't kill them exactly, but someone died on my operating table. My mentor said it wasn't my fault, sometimes those things just happen, but I feel horrible. It was the first patient I've ever lost."
"Oh Callie I'm so sorry." Coming around the island to give me a hug, Aria wrapped me up in her arms. "I'm sure you did everything you could. You're the smartest person I know."
"It just really sucks. I went into this profession to help people, not hurt them."
"Come on now, you know you can't save everyone. Even I know that."
"I know, it's just an awful feeling." Wiping away some tears, I tried to compose myself again. "I need to freshen up."
"Of course, of course." Aria let go of me and went back to preparing breakfast, "Your room is all set up upstairs. Take a few minutes and I'll have the food ready for us." Excusing myself I gathered my bag from the front door and went up the stairs to the guest room. I went into the bathroom to wash my face and change into more weather appropriate clothes. Before going back downstairs I decided to give Arizona a call over facetime.
"Not too early is it?" I asked when Arizona's face popped up on the screen. She really did look beautiful.
"Nope, me and little miss are just watching the parade. She went to the bathroom, but she'll be right back. How was your flight?"
"Good." We both were quiet for a few seconds. "I've been thinking about what you said. I thought about it all night."
"I shouldn't have sprung it on you like that." Arizona quickly interjected, "I'm glad I said it, but I think I could've handled it differently."
"No, I'm happy you said something. I want you to be honest with me, always…"
"Speaking of honesty, I there's something else. I meant to tell you last night, but the conversation went in a different direction." Sitting up in bed, she shook her head lightly to gather her thoughts, "Before I came to see you yesterday I ran into Dr. Greene. Bailey told me what happened in the OR with you and I felt like I needed to say something. I don't know all the details, but I know that I love you and I think the position he put you in was unfair. I was fully prepared to give him an earful, most likely breaking that invisible professional and personal barrier, but I don't care. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it Webber interrupted us before I could really say anything. I don't know what's going to happen, but Webber said he wants to talk to all of us next week. I'm always on your side. I know I shouldn't get involved, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't."
"I can defend myself, Arizona…"
"I know."
"…but thank you for saying something, or at least trying to." She cracked a small smile. "I need you to respect the fact that Dr. Greene is my mentor. I can't have my girlfriend going after my mentor, especially since you're an attending and I'm a resident. The optics just look bad. If I need you to step in I'll let you know, but you have to let me handle this stuff on my own, okay?"
"Of course. From the beginning I always said I didn't want to come between you and your career. I know how much this means to you." Before I could respond I heard the sweet pitter patter of Sofia's feet running into Arizona's room. "Wanna say hi to Callie, sweetheart?"
"Hi Callie!" The young girls face took over the screen as she plopped down in front of mother. "I miss you a lot! When are you coming back?"
"Super soon, munchkin. I promise." The last part was more so directed at Arizona. "Save me some dessert, okay?"
"I will." Letting out a giggle, she curled herself into her mother's embrace.
"Listen, I'm going to let you ladies go, but I miss you and I'll see you soon."
"Tell your sister I said hello!" Arizona said before the two waved goodbye. As if she heard her own name, Aria knocked on my door as soon as we hung up.
"All good in here?" Aria asked coming into the room and sitting on the bed next to me, "I thought I heard you talking with someone."
"Yeah, it was Arizona and Sofia."
"It's cute that you have your own little family." Family, there's that word again. Sure it has one dictionary meaning, but family is defined differently by everyone. "Did I say something wrong?" Aria asked after a long pause.
"No, not at all. Arizona asked me to move in with her yesterday."
"No shit, really?! That's big! A little fast in my opinion, but what do I know. What are you going to do?"
"I mean I think it's where were headed anyway, I was just surprised to hear it."
"Only do it if you're one hundred percent sure. It's not just Arizona, you have to factor in Sofia. Kids are different. That said, you kind of have it made. You get the hot woman and her cute daughter. You two are like a lesbian doctor super couple."
I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at her remark, "I do kinda of like the sound of that. You don't think twenty-six is too young to settle down?"
"You're looking at it the wrong way. You're not settling down, you're leveling up. You have two people who are in your corner and love you. Not everyone has that. I have friends in their mid-thirties going on dates every weekend trying to find the right person. It seems like to me you already have your people. If you want I get help you make a pro cons list over breakfast. I can already tell you're making one in your head."
"You know me so well."
A/N: Curious to know your thoughts about this. If you have any suggestions or things you would want to see in the story drop a comment of PM me. Stay safe!