It's You, It'll Always Be You

Chapter 4

[Flashback]

"You should call her."

"I wouldn't know what to say."

"You talked to the girl for an entire night and you wouldn't know what to say?"

"Addison…" Callie complained.

Addison cocked an eyebrow up. "What? It's a valid statement! You're just being ridiculous."

Callie groaned as she flopped back into bed. "No, Addison. You're being ridiculous. What if I read the signs wrong? What if she rejects me and I make a complete fool out of myself? What if-"

"What if this and what if that? Callie, you won't know unless you try, am I right? Now, Arizona won't reject, okay?" She should see Callie about to protest that point and interrupted her before she could. "Because she'd be an idiot if she did. You're hot, Callie. I'm straight and I will admit that. And from the way she was looking at you at that party, I'm sure that blondie was into you." Addison snatched Callie's phone off of her nightstand and searched through Callie's contact list. "Ah, here we are. Now talk to her." Callie bolted up immediately with her eyes opened up widely in fear and panic. "Hurry up now, she'll be answering soon," Addison snickered.

"Addison! I am so going to- Oh, hi. Is this Arizona?" Callie said sweetly into the phone though her eyes were still throwing daggers at Addison.

"It is. May I ask who's calling?" Arizona breathed into the phone.

Oh no… She was, with someone, and I, I missed my chance and… "Hey, it's Callie. From the party the other night."

"Callie…" Arizona pondered for a second. "OH! Right, Calliope! How are you? Sorry if I'm all out of breath. I was just at the gym trying to blow off some steam."

Relief rushed through Callie's body knowing that she wasn't in bed having sex with anyone so soon after their amazing night. "Oh no, that's quite alright. I'm sorry if I interrupted your workout. I can always just call back later when you're not-"

"Calliope, stop rambling," Arizona chuckled. "It's fine really; I could use a little breather right now anyways. What's up?"

"I, umm," You make me crazy and I can't stop thinking about you ever since you kissed me on the cheek and I can still feel your lips on my skin and your smell flaring up my senses and your body making mine react in ways that it never has before and-

"Calliope, are you still there?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm still here, sorry. Just got a little side-tracked there for a second. Anyways, I was wondering if you'd like to hang out with me again some time?"

"Of course, Calliope. I would love to hang out with you again. How does dinner tomorrow night sound?"

"That sounds great. I'll see you tomorrow then. I'll pick you up at your dorm. Say around, 8?"

"Eight will be awesome. See you later, Calliope. Bye."

"Bye, Arizona." Callie waited until she heard the click indicating that Arizona hung up before turning towards Addison with a big smile on her face. "Oh yeah, I'm a total badass."

The next afternoon, Arizona stood in her dorm room staring into her closet with a frustrated look on her face. She already had seven other outfits thrown all around the bed and she couldn't find one that felt right."For the love of God, Arizona. Just pick something! You'll look fine in anything. You're like a hanger, so please, for both of our sanities, just throw something on already."

"Ugh, Teddy, I can't decide! Nothing feels right. I want to look my best for Calliope tonight."

"You're so lame, Arizona. She will love anything you're in." After seeing Arizona's desperate face, she sighed and walked up to her closet herself. "Here," she said pulling out a blue dress. "Go with this. It'll highlight your eyes."

Arizona looked up and down the dress before smiling and clapping her hands in victory. "This is perfect! You're the best, Teddy." She pulled Teddy in for a quick hug before stripping down and changing into the dress. "Wow, you're right. This dress does make my eyes look super blue."

"Told you. Now come on and let's finish getting you ready before Callie gets here."

Forty-five minutes later, Arizona's hair was perfectly curled and her make-up done lightly to let her natural beauty shine. "How do I look?" Arizona asked doing a little twirl for Teddy.

"You look awesome. You'll definitely win her over, for sure," Teddy added a wink to tease Arizona even more.

"You're impossible! I'm trying to be serious here!" Arizona didn't get to say anymore as a light knock sounded from her door. "Oh my God, she's here. She's here!" She exclaimed excitedly and skipped over to the door. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves before opening the door. Standing there in her doorway was an absolutely stunning Callie Torres wearing a black dress that hugged her body in all the right places. Arizona's face flushed and her heart raced taking in the sight of the beautiful Latina before her. "Calliope, wow, you look wonderful."

"Oh, this old thing?" She swished her dress around a little for emphasis. "Eh, it's nothing really. Your dress is beautiful. It definitely brings out your eyes."

Arizona's blush deepened at Callie compliment and looked over her shoulder at Teddy real quick, flashing her a giddy grin, before turning back to Callie. "Why thank you, Calliope. That's extremely sweet of you. Now I don't know about you, but I'm starved. So, shall we?"

They had a nice, quiet dinner at a small Italian restaurant that was full of stolen looks, mega-watt/dimpled smiles, flirty, seemingly innocent, lingering touches, and twinkles in chocolate brown and sapphire blue eyes. Long story short, the dinner was a smashing success. The soft lighting did wonders for Callie's skin tone and Arizona found herself falling deep into her. God, I could seriously fall for this woman.

"Are you up for going for a walk?" Callie asked, hoping Arizona would agree because she didn't want this night with her to be over quite yet.

Arizona grinned slightly, "It's like you can read my mind, Calliope." They walked around in a nearby park standing close enough that their hands brushed against each other, but neither having the courage to take the step to lace their fingers together. Taking a look at her watch, Arizona saw that it was nearly one in the morning. But I don't want to leave… Arizona mentally whined. How does she make time seem like it just speeds by when I'm with her? Arizona let out a small sigh at that thought.

"Is everything alright?" Callie asked genuinely concerned.

"Yeah, everything's fine. It's just that it's getting late and we should probably head back now. I'm just being a little, selfish, whiny baby because I don't want you to go quite yet," Arizona blushed at her confession.

Callie smiled a little at Arizona's reddened cheeks thinking she was so adorable at that moment. "You're right. We should get back now. And I know what you mean. This night has been so perfect that I don't want to go yet. But come on, let's head back. We can always hang out another night, right?"

An idea popped into Arizona's head, "Calliope Torres, are you suggesting a second date?" she teased.

Callie was quiet for a moment. "Maybe," she decided to play along with Arizona's games.

Arizona looked over at Callie, trying to read both her expression and tone to see if she was sincere or just kidding around. "Really?"

"We'll see. You've still got the rest of the night to make me want that second date," Callie threw in a wink for an added effect.

Arizona stood there stunned into place by Callie's blatant flirting before realizing that Callie kept on walking ahead of her with a smug look on her face. Arizona gathered herself and quickened her pace to catch up to Callie and intertwined their fingers when she caught up with her. Now it was Callie who was stunned and Arizona wearing the smug look when Callie's heart started racing feeling Arizona's soft, warm hand in hers. They walked hand-in-hand back to their dorm since everything seemed to be in walking distance of their building.

"I had a wonderful night. Thanks for taking me out, Calliope," Arizona said once they were standing in the hallway outside of her room.

"Thank you for coming out with me, Arizona. And I'm sorry that it took me a couple days to call you after the party. I hope you've forgiven me by now?" Callie answered, unknowingly inching closer to Arizona.

"Of-of course I have," Arizona murmured, immediately becoming nervous having Callie be so close to her. "I-I…" Arizona couldn't concentrate with Callie hovering literally mere centimeters now from her lips. She threw her arms around Callie's neck and closed the distance between their lips, eliciting a gasp from the brunette. At first the kiss was soft and sweet, but Arizona soon deepened the kiss and Callie pushed her up against her door as the passionate heat of their kiss intensified. Arizona couldn't hold in a slight groan at having Callie's body pressed up so close to hers.

Upon hearing Arizona's groan, Callie pulled back, completely out of breath, and with a look of shock on her face. "I, umm, I," Callie nervously mumbled, looking everywhere but Arizona's eyes. "I should go," she whispered. "I should go," she repeated, a bit stronger this time. "I'm sorry, Arizona. I shouldn't have… I should go." And with that Callie hurriedly took off down the hallway and into the stairwell before Arizona had a chance to process what had just happened. What the Hell did I just do? Callie thought once she ran up the stairs and was safely in her room.

What just happened? Arizona wondered with confusion, lifting her fingers to her lips that still tingled from the beautiful Latina that had graced them just minutes ago.

[Present Time]

Arizona made a note to stay away from Carlos Torres' room and so far, she'd been successful at that. She didn't know if she could handle seeing a man she'd known for years and learned to love and respect lie in a hospital bed broken down by cancer. She asked Derek what his prognosis was and he said that it wasn't good. The cancer had spread much faster than expected and they weren't sure if the risky surgery would be enough to save him. She also hadn't spoken to Callie since the evening they spent together because she wasn't sure if she could keep her feelings in check around her.

Callie made Arizona feel insecure about her strength and self-control. Things had been easier to deal with when Callie was hundreds of miles away in San Francisco; Arizona had built up a strong defense in Callie's absence. But now with her return and waltzing back into her life, Arizona could feel her reserves crumbling. If she was feeling doubtful after only one night, she couldn't imagine how she would feel seeing, talking to, and being around Callie on a daily basis. She knew it wouldn't be long before she lost her inner battle and lose herself in Callie again.

And here came the inner turmoil; Arizona wasn't a cheater. She had been in a committed relationship with Caitlin for a year and a half. Caitlin picked up her broken pieces and patiently placed Arizona back together. She made her stop her excessive drinking, she made Arizona stop with the chain smoking, and she warmed Arizona's heart back up after it had been cold for a long, full year. Caitlin was the perfect girlfriend in so many ways and Arizona did love her. It's just that Caitlin Thomas wasn't Calliope Torres. She couldn't fill the void in Arizona's heart that belonged to the ravenous brunette. She didn't ignite Arizona in a way that only Callie could. She was safe, and she was kind, loving, sweet, but she was nothing like the woman who had Arizona's heart.

Arizona was more angered at herself than anyone because she couldn't just rid herself of her feelings for Callie. She had a wonderful, beautiful girlfriend at home who loved and was devoted to her. That should be enough for anyone, right? Arizona was sitting in an on-call room with a chart propped up in her lap that she was working on before her mind got distracted with the battle between Caitlin and Callie, between her head and her heart. The door opened and Arizona looked up to see Callie standing there looking right at her. "I had a feeling I'd find you here."

"How did you know where to find me?"

"Come on, Arizona. Two and a half years may have passed, but there are some parts of you that I will always know. But other than that, I mean this is our on-call room, is it not?"

Arizona looked around and noticed that she was indeed in their on-call room. So many memories were held inside these four walls and Arizona almost took another trip down memory lane, but was interrupted by Callie clearing her throat. "You're right. I suppose it is. Anyways, how are you? How are things with Carlos?"

Callie's face changed to a more saddened look as she averted her gaze away from Arizona. "You would know if you weren't trying to avoid me like the plague."

"I wasn't-"

"Please don't lie to me right now, Arizona. I've called you over and over again this past week and you haven't answered a single one of them or called me back for that matter. Every time I'm walking down the hall, you seem to take off in the opposite direction thinking that I haven't seen you. What is going on, Arizona? Why are you doing this?"

Callie finally looked up and Arizona immediately felt guilty as she saw Callie's eyes starting to pool with tears and displayed her emotions for Arizona to see. She could see that Callie was hurt. She could see that Callie was in pain and a hint of despair after having to deal with her father's condition on her own here in Seattle. She dropped the chart and rushed over to Callie, pulling her into her. "Oh no, Calliope. Please don't cry," she whispered into Callie's hair.

Callie fell into Arizona's arms and started sobbing, much like when she showed up at Arizona's door when she first got to Seattle. "W-why, Ari-Arizona? Why are you trying to stay away from me?"

Because I don't know how to control myself around you, Arizona thought to herself. "I'm so sorry, Calliope. I was just scared. And stupid. So incredibly stupid."

"He's asking about you." Arizona pulled back a little confused and wiped away some of Callie's tears as she searched her eyes, trying to find the rest of the story behind that statement. "He knows that you're in the hospital, Arizona. And he's a little hurt too that you won't stop by to visit him."

"I don't know how to face him," Arizona softly admitted.

"You've known my father for years, Arizona, and he loves you. I'm sure you'll know exactly how to face him once you see him. Now come on, he's been waiting to see you for a long time now."

They walked over to Carlos' room while Callie tried calming Arizona's nerves the entire way there. However, Callie was right and once Arizona was standing in Carlos' room, she knew exactly how to face him. All three of them fell into easy conversation as Arizona caught him up on her life in Seattle and a few things about her family. Time flew by, but it was interrupted when Arizona's pager went off. "Damnit, there's a trauma coming in the pit, I have to go. But I'll stop by after my shift or something, okay?"

"Don't worry, I understand. I'll see you later, mija," Arizona nearly teared up at Carlos' term of endearment and flashed both him and Callie an apologetic smile before taking off for the ER. "She's a great girl, Calliope. A really amazing girl."

Callie just smiled and nodded. I already know that, she thought. She couldn't still have my heart today if she were anything less than awesome.

Hours later, Arizona returned to Carlos' room all changed since her shift was over. The kid that came in the ER earlier made it through his surgery and so Arizona was in a good mood. She walked in quietly after seeing Callie asleep over in one of the visitor's chairs. "Hey there, mija. Glad to see you again."

"You too, Carlos. How are you feeling right now?"

"I've had better nights, but I'm okay. You seem happy, everything go alright today?"

"Everything was super! Thanks for asking."

"Good, good. I'm glad to hear it. Now pull up a chair. I want to talk to you about something."

"Of course," Arizona responded, carefully grabbing the other visitor chair and sitting down next to Carlos, instinctively holding his hand once she sat down. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I have to catch her."

Arizona sat there, absolutely confused as to where he was going with this. "What?"

"I've always had to catch her. For all her life, Calliope's been on a bridge. And she wouldn't just walk on it either. No, she'd climb on the railing and be ready to leap. When she does, when it happens, I have to be there, I have to catch her because it's my job as her father."

"Carlos, what you talking about? Calliope is strong and she doesn't need-"

"What I'm trying to say is that I've been trying to protect her her whole life, Arizona. I've tried making decisions that will make her life better in the long run. But the truth is, I haven't done what's best for her. I've done what I thought was best for me. For my family, for my name. If I had done what was best for her, I would have never pushed her to marry George. I know that she doesn't love him. Not in the way that she loves someone else. You are a good person, Arizona, and I have never had anything against you. But all those years ago when I saw that Calliope had fallen for you, I was scared that her being with a woman would cause chaos within the Torres family. So I made sure that she didn't choose you. And it was so horrible for me to do, but at the time I thought it was best for my daughter. Please forgive me, Arizona. It is all my fault. Calliope loves you, Arizona. She always has, and I think she always will. You're a very special girl, Arizona Robbins. And I can see why my Calliope has fallen so in love with you. You make her happy. Happier than I have ever seen her in her life. Lately that happiness hasn't been there and I know why. I can't let my daughter suffer anymore because of me trying to protect my name from some unimportant bigots. What I should have cared about in the beginning was her happiness. And that is what you are. You're her happiness."

"C-Carlos, I-I don't know what to say to that…"

"There isn't anything to say, Arizona. I can see it in your eyes that you still love my Calliope. And I know that things have been messed up in the past, but I know that you will do what is right. Promise me, that you'll make her happy again."

"Carlos, I can't make promises like that I-"

"Promise me, Arizona." Carlos interrupted more sternly.

Arizona sighed defeatedly, her mind rushing through all her emotions right now, barely able to comprehend anything since she was thinking about everything. "I promise," she finally whispered out softly, sincerely. Unknown to the both of them, Callie was sitting there with her eyes closed, listening in to their entire conversation. Her heart melted and her eyes filled with tears at her father's words and hearing Arizona's promise. A smile tugged at her lips, but she fought it trying to pretend that she was still asleep.

"Good. Thank you, Arizona." And with those last words, Arizona felt Carlos' grip weaken on her hand before his stats monitor let out a blaring alarm that stopped Arizona's heart.

"NO! DADDY!" Came Callie's voice from behind Arizona's shoulder as she came rushing over to her father's bedside. "Daddy, no. Please hang on. Don't die on me! Come on, please hang on, daddy. Live!"

At night, normal people go to sleep. However, I am not normal and do my best writing in the late night/early morning hours. Crazy, huh?

You all will probably kill me now leaving you with two cliffhangers, but I'm sorry! I had to do it to keep your attention and wanting more, right? =P

Anyways, this one is extra long to make up for the lack of updates I'll probably have for the holidays, so I hope you liked it.

Happy Holidays to everyone! This is my present to all of you, so maybe, if you're a kind, sweet soul, you'll give me one of my own by telling me what you thought?

Even if it's just to yell at me to keep you hanging, I'll absolutely accept those too. =]