Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy, I just borrowed the name of the characters for entertaining, no intention to violate any copyrights.

A/N : I can't thank you enough for coming back. Sorry for the late update, the next chapter will come a lot quicker ;-)

Thank to my amazing beta calzonaforever35, can't do this without your support, girl.

Chapter 33

Day 56

The cell phone on Arizona's desk started to vibrate. Who would be calling her at this hour? She stopped filling out the paperwork and picked up the device, her heart clenching when a picture of Callie showed up.

"Why aren't you sleeping? It's almost 4am in Miami." Arizona asked softly with pity and reproof in her voice.

"How can I sleep when you've been ignoring my calls all day?" Callie sat up straight on her bed, and pulled her knees close to her chest. She had stopped calling about 6 hours ago because she knew how stubborn her girlfriend could be; knowing calling may just annoy her. But while she was staring at the ceiling watching as time passed, different scenarios flashed in her crazy mind, she had to try again.

"I'm sorry." The blonde leaned her head back against the chair, as she sighed out her response.

"Please tell me you aren't apologizing for lying somewhere with another woman in your arms." Callie chewed her lips, vulnerability lingering in her voice.

"No, I'm in my office. Alone." Arizona chuckled lightly, as she heard the sigh of relief from the other side.

They remained silent for a while. Neither of them knew what to say, but the Latina wasn't the kind of person to hold her tongue.

"Why were we fighting?"

"I'm so sorry Callie." Arizona apologized again. "It's been a long day. Maybe it was the post-holiday depression. Maybe…"

"Because you thought I went out with some guy?" Callie cut in.

"I- I'm not going to lie to you." The blonde sighed again. "I wasn't thrilled about that."

"You were jealous." Callie was amused by the honesty from her girlfriend, she had to bite her bottom lip to stop the goofy smile.

"Can you blame me?" Arizona leaned forward, forehead in her hand and propped up by the elbow. She wasn't proud of it. The whole arguing over jealously thing, it wasn't her. Not until she met this woman.

"That was Gael Ramos." Callie continued after a couple seconds of silence. She didn't want to have any secrets between them. "I knew him since I was… 3, I think. His father and my mom worked in a law firm together, and then they started a law firm together."

"No Callie, you don't have to explain." The doctor shook her head slowly. Of course she trusted Callie, and sometimes ignorance is blessed.

"I want to." Callie rested her chin on her knee. "Gael was like a brother to me. He was my person and we were inseparable when we were kids. He, Andrea and I. Remember Andrea? The cousin who is like a little sister to me?" The brunette smiled with the memories of being protected by this big brother in her earlier years. "I think that's why my mom tried to set me up with him, to make me straight."

"She did?" Arizona laughed out. "Why am I not surprised about that?"

"But she didn't know Gael and Andrea have been dating for a year already." Callie chuckled along. "That's right. You were jealous of my cousin's boyfriend."

"I didn't know." Arizona sucked in her bottom lip, and smiled at her own silliness.

"You didn't give me a chance to tell you."

"I'm so sorry."

"Stop apologizing. I love you, you crazy woman." Callie's grin went wider when she heard the light chuckle from the phone. She knew she was off the hook then. "Why are you still in the hospital?"

"Remember I told you about Maddy Carlson? The 6 year old who pushed her father down the stairs? She's hospitalized. Her father broke her elbow and 2 ribs."

"Oh my god, that's terrible."

"Yeah." Arizona nodded slowly. "Alex approached the mother, and I kicked him off the case. So I'm here to monitor her tonight."

"Have I told you that you were the reason I wanted start this. I mean, being a doctor again? You care about your patient like crazy. That's one of the thing I love about you." The Latina leaned back against the headboard with a smile, recalling the times her surgeon girlfriend came to her all upset about a tiny human – as she called them or beamed with joy when a kid kicked it off.

"You do? You're not scared when I got all emotional over a patient?"

"Well, I don't like it, but I love you." They both laughed at the cheesy line. Cheesy, but extremely sweet.

"I wish you're here with me now." The blonde breathed out. It had been a long day and she wanted to cuddle with the soft body that she missed so much. Even though they were together just few days ago, it was never enough.

"Me too. I miss kissing you every day." Callie relaxed as she lay on the bed. Her eyes were getting heavy. "Did you ever think I'd leave you for 3 months?"

"No, and I don't like it, but we've survived 2 months. We'll get through this. And in 22 days… nope, 21 days, you'll be here with me again." Arizona didn't need a calendar, she counted it every day.

"Right." Callie covered her mouth to suppress a yawn. Suddenly she remembered there has something she wanted to ask. "Did Colleen really ask you out?"

"Just once. She caught me in a bad mood. But I shut her down." Arizona sank deeper in her chair. Hearing the yawn from Callie, she felt her own exhausted too.

"Great." Another yawn, the brunette didn't even bother to cover it now.

"You're going to sleep now?"

"Hmm…"

"Then go to sleep." Arizona said softly. It wasn't the first time Callie fell asleep in the middle of their late night phone call. Callie said her angelic voice made her feel safe and comfortable and… home. "I'm about to do the last round. Maybe I'll get some shut eye in an on-call room later."

"Good. Remember to lock the door, I don't want someone else to climb in your bed." Murmuring coming through the phone, Arizona knew she was losing the brunette.

"Can't wait until you start to work in the hospital, I'm gonna drag you to an on-call room every chance I get." Arizona whispered to the phone, she wasn't sure if Callie could hear her. Surprisingly enough, she did.

"Sounds tempting."

"Yeah, now put that image in your head. Sleep like an angel, my love."

"Calliope. Calliope?"

Callie was stirred from her short nap when her father stood in front of her. She didn't even know he had opened the door and entered the study.

"Why don't you go sleep in your bedroom? You look exhausted." Carlos frowned, and sat down on the chair on the other side of the desk.

"I'm just taking a short break. I have some chapters to catch up on." Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Callie reached out to pick up her cup of coffee.

"Still angry with your mother?" Carlos asked with a half smile. He knew the whole thing all along, couldn't deny that he had a little hope his wife's plan could work. But from the look on his daughter's face the rest of the afternoon, he knew it didn't. Now he felt guilty.

"Nope… well yes, but not about trying to set me up with Gael." Callie sighed, finished her cold coffee. "I'm just… tired of fighting with her. I don't wanna fight her, and I don't wanna fight with Arizona."

"You had a fight with Arizona? What did she do?" Carlos frowned. Father's instinct immediately kicked in. "What happened?"

"She was having a bad day, and thought I went out with someone… We're ok now. We talked." Callie smiled while sitting up straight and turned to open the text book in front of her, getting ready to go back to studying.

"That's good." He nodded slowly, a small smile on his face. "I really like her. It would be a shame if it doesn't work out between the two of you."

"Then tell mom to quit it." Callie rolled her eyes. She didn't get much sleep, and talking about her mother just made her more irritated than she already was.

"Mija, she's just doing what she thinks is right." The man watched his daughter for a while. "She means well."

"Dad, I know mom is thinking that she's doing the right thing, but… I'm not a child. She can't just set me up with some guy and expect me to go with it. I'm a grown woman and in a committed relationship."

"Well, you don't have children, because if you do, you're a grown woman means nothing. You are always going to be a child of mine and your mother's. It's like blood running through the veins, you don't outgrow it... it never goes away, the love, you know. The need to protect you, from everything, even from yourself."

Callie listened to her father quietly. She chewed her lips as Carlos continued.

"Yes, you've grown up, you've moved out, you've changed, you became a person we don't recognize, and made drastic decisions in your life. I mean, you think we don't love you, because we don't understand, but it's the opposite. See, it's the opposite, mija. We fight for you, always. We will never surrender. When our child is on the line, we never surrender."

"Dad, of course I know you and mom love me, but I just…" Callie sighed. "I just want her to understand I'm happily in love with Arizona."

"She knows." Carlos gave his daughter a heartfelt smile. "That's why she pulled out the big guns. She knows you won't say no to Gael."

"When he wanted to go for ice-cream or to the movies, not when he wanted to go on a date with me." For a second, Callie thought about sharing the secret of Gael and Andrea with her father, but she bit her tongue - it wasn't her story to tell after all.

"She had to try." He shrugged, and then looked around the books, notes and flash cards. "So, how is your studying going?"

"I think I'm ready." The brunette leaned back on the chair to stretch her back. But she quickly added. "If it was mom that sent you in to ask the question, my answer is no, I'm terrified. Otherwise, she will arrange a few more set ups for me. I prefer to stay in here."

"It wasn't from her. She's in the office today." Carlos chuckled slightly. "Have I told you how happy I am that you come back to stay with me, and take care of me?"

"You don't have to say that. I'm glad I have this chance to make up our lost time, you know."

"As I said, I should be the one protecting you, taking care of you. I am your father. But instead, you put your life on hold to come to take care of me."

"I didn't put my life on hold. I just… moved a part of my life to here." Callie gestured the books that took up her father's study.

"But a big part of your life is elsewhere. You thought I didn't know you keep your phone with you everywhere you go? You were excited every time you got to see Arizona, and extra cranky afterward?" The man cracked an I-am-your-father-I-know-everything smile, making the brunette blushed.

"It's… hey, you were young and in love once, you know how it feels to want to be with that person all the time."

"I'm still young and in love, Calliope." They shared a laugh. "I really want to say I'm happy that you wanted to come back here and spend some time with me, mija. I had the greatest 2 months with you."

"I've had a good time too." Callie reached out a hand, Carlos clenched it across the desk.

"Just so you know, the doctor cleared me. I'm good as new and ready to go back to work."

"Dad, why don't you take it easy…" The brunette frowned and tried to convince her father, but a squeeze on her hand stopped her.

"I am taking it easy. I've talked to your mother. We will both work less, and try to spend some more time together. But keeping me away from work would make me crazy." Carlos winked, tried to lighten the mood. But Callie just shook her head slightly.

"I don't like the idea."

"Yes, you would have to because I'm going to release you from nursing duty."

Day 60

"Dr. Robbins, do you have a moment?"

Lifting her head from the chart she was writing on at the nurses station, Arizona was surprised to see George standing in front of her.

"Yes, but I have a surgery in an hour."

"Can we go somewhere more private? I have to talk to you." The man asked sheepishly. The doctor frowned, but still led him to her office.

George closed the door after him, but instead of sitting on the chair, he leaned back on the door looking nervous. He bit his lips to a thin line, staring at the floor before him.

"George, if you want, you can have a seat." Arizona raised her eyebrows, pointing to the chair in front of her desk.

"Thank you Dr. Robbins." He approached the seat in a slow pace. The blonde just stared at him with curiosity. He began speaking awkwardly after settling down on the chair, "I hope you don't mind, but I want to talk to you about Callie."

"George, maybe it's not a good idea." The furrow between the blue eyes went deeper. For months the nurse worked in the clinic or in the hospital, the two of them successfully avoided this topic. Well, Callie being away helped a little bit. But for Arizona, she really felt uncomfortable talking about her girlfriend with the man who happened to have married her.

"I need to, Dr. Robbins." George took a deep breath and then looked directly at Arizona. She was stunned by the determination in the green eyes before her. Seeing no objection from his boss, George started. "Do you love her?"

"I… I really don't think I have to answer this, George." Arizona gave him a grimace. This was all kind of weird.

"You are dating my wife. I have every right to ask you this question." George bit his lips tight and curved it downward, waiting for an answer.

"George…"

"This is a simple question. Yes or no, simple as that." George sneered, and rubbed his face with both hands. "Callie couldn't answer me either. That night when I asked if she had even loved me."

"George, you need to understand…" Arizona leaned forward, put a hand on the desk pondering the right way to say it. "Callie didn't move to Seattle because of me. I didn't know she had… has a husband when I met her."

"I know." The male nurse sighed heavily through his hands. After taking a moment to calm down, he dropped his hands on his lap, still not looking at the doctor. "I'm sure Callie and Mark told you I'm a freak. A pathetic… stupid freak."

The male nurse pursed his lips, and shook his head slowly shaking from side to side. Arizona opened her mouth trying to console the man but he continued. "I'm pathetic. Loving someone who doesn't love you back is pathetic."

"You can't force someone to love you, just as you can't stop yourself from loving someone." The blonde studied the man's face closely. She still had no idea where this conversation was headed, and she knew everything she said could be very dangerous, but she just couldn't help herself but to feel bad for him.

"I still remember the first time I met Callie. I had dinner with friends, one of them suggested going for a drink, and someone took us to Funhouse. You know, Callie's pub in New York. Since then, I became a regular customer in there. I always went there after a long day of work, sat by the bar talking to her when it wasn't too busy… Or when Mark wasn't there, he doesn't like me." George pulled a lopsided bitter smile, but Arizona didn't say anything.

"I was waiting for her to notice me. I believed one day, she would really see me and then we would fall madly in love. But instead, I was there to see her lock eyes with Malena the first time. I saw her fall in love, and I saw her fall apart."

George stared at his hands on the lap, deep in the memory lane. All Arizona could think about was how wrong it was to hear her girlfriend's soon-to-be ex-husband talked about Callie's dead girlfriend. So, so weird.

"I'm not proud of speeding up our relationship by asking her to marry me. I know eventually she would accept my unconditional love. We would live happily ever after if I could be more patient, you know? I just… I hated to see her so upset, mourning over Malena. I thought marrying her would make her happy, even though I knew it wasn't at the right time."

"George, I'm sorry but I have to stop you here. Are you coming here to tell me, I should back off, and break up with Callie so you two can stay married? And then she would be happy… with you?" The blonde widened her eyes. She was so in shock that her eyes might've popped right out of their sockets.

"Would you?" Green eyes lit up and met with angry blues.

"Are you out of your mind?!"

George dropped his head again. For a couple of minutes, there was nothing but an uncomfortable silence between them.

"Listen, George, you're a good man. You're a fantastic caregiver. It's great to work with you. Let's just… keep it that way, ok? We don't need to have this kind of conversation again." Arizona made a hand gesture between her and the man. She was so ready to end this unpleasant discussion.

"I want to be the one to make her happy." George blurted out, liked he hadn't heard anything his boss just said. "I want those brown eyes looking for me every time she couldn't find me in the room. I want her to grin from ear to ear just because I show up in front of her. I want her to look at me the same way she looked at Malena, or you."

"George, please…" The blonde tried to stop him again, with a firmer tone in her voice.

"Even though, deep down I knew she would never love me like I wanted it to be." The male nurse nodded his head slowly as he blew out a heavily puff. "I need to know… I really need to know, Dr. Robbins, do you love Callie?"

Arizona stared at the man, still not sure if she should answer this question.

"You know, people talk. In this hospital, people talk a lot. Especially the nurses I work with." The determination found the way back to the green eyes. He gazed at the doctor intensely.

"Oh…" The blonde leaned back. She knew George was referring to her flings with the nurses over the years. Crossing her arm under her chest, she clarified it. "Callie knows about my past."

"I'm sure she does." George chewed the corner of his lip, pulling a stack of folded up papers from his back pocket and grasped it tightly in his hand. "Callie is not one of those nurses. I don't mean to say it in a bad way, just… she's special. She's amazing and she deserves the best in the world."

"I know it."

"She deserves someone who loves her, who would never hurt her."

"I don't have to explain myself to you. What had happened between me and some other nurses, those were in the past. I am not going to hurt Callie." Arizona said sincerely, because she truly had no intention to hurt the woman she was in love with so dearly.

"I overheard your conversation with Mrs. Carlson few days ago." George drummed the folded up papers on his other hand as he was trying to recall that day. "You asked her what was she fighting for, the marriage or the person she needs to protect. I asked myself the same question."

Arizona squinted at George. Now she knew what those papers he was holding were.

"I'm not ready to let her go, but I know I need to protect her, I need to make her happy. And right now, ironically, the marriage is the thing that keeps her from being happy." The man held up the papers. "Dr. Robbins, I need you to promise me, you will keep her safe. You will never hurt her; and you will love her as long as you live."

"George, this is ridiculous. I won't promise you anything." Not that Arizona couldn't make this promise, just this was something between her and Callie, not with this man.

"Women are just so frustrating." The nurse laughed sarcastically. "Can you just for once, be honest with me? For this divorcee's sake? Do you love her?"

After a long pause, Arizona finally gave the answer that George was waiting for, "I love her. I have never loved anyone as deep as I love Callie."

"Good." The man tried his hardest to pull a smile on his face. He handed over the stack of paper. "Can you give this to Callie?"

"Thank you George," Arizona reached a hand to take it. "For Callie."

"But uh… Dr. Robbins," George stopped before he twisted the door knob open. "If you hurt her, I won't hesitate to sweep in to pick up the pieces."

Arizona stared at him leaving the room dumbfounded. Finally, she unfolded the papers in her hand. As expected, those were Callie and George's divorce paper, signed by both parties.

"Hey blondie!" A loud shout made her jumped. Mark entered her office with concern. "I saw the creep leave here, everything ok?"

"Yeah." She passed the divorce paper to Mark, seeing a smile slowly spread on her best friend's face matching hers.

"You made him do it?"

"Well, long story. I have a surgery in 20 minutes," The blonde snatched the papers back and locked it in her desk drawer safely. "Let's talk about this in Horizon tonight. My treat."