A/N: So yeah, I had to watch the Lauren/Arizona storyline. If you look at my tumblr you already know this, but oh my god, my Calzona heart. I really have been avoiding that storyline, but yeah...since I'm writing Lauren, I gotta know her character. Also, you guys are really good guessers unless you just naturally know Lauren's surgical speciality(I didn't until last chapter). Okay here's my chapter. ENJOY!
The day is old. Wrinkles of sunset etching themselves into the face of the sky.
Tired people ambling slowly on the boardwalk, heavy-lidded eyes and bored expressions. The stars are even sluggish tonight. Their appearances sparkling and clear only for a moment before quickly being lost under pillowy clouds. The hospital may be the only thing alive this time of night. The hospital and the bar situated just a few streets away from it. It's mysteriously coincidental how close the two were built, almost if one gave need for the other.
Luckily for Lauren though, their close proximity allows her to work excessively and still have somewhat of a healthy social life.
She smiles, fingers running contentedly over her keyboard. She turns toward the large window on the interior wall of her office. The nurses and residents go bustling as if ignorant to the lateness of evening, their bodies perpetually in motion and their expressions contorted in concentration. A group of female interns are huddled almost conspiratorially in the hallway, giggling and chatting. Their fingers pointing interestedly at a wedding magazine.
They must be friends of Karine Lauren thinks absently.
Karine Johnson, one of Lauren's interns, is getting married in a few months. She's twenty-six, and the groom is some boyish accountant from Milwaukee. He sends her flowers at the office sometimes, and one instance in particular, he came to visit, dragging the giggling woman away from the hospital for what Lauren can only assume was a very romantic evening. They seemed to care deeply for each other, and for all intents and purposes, it was sweet.
Love is sweet. Lauren smiles slightly remembering how excited Karine was when she spotted her little accountant sitting patiently in the waiting room.
Lauren's never been in love like that. Actually, she's never been in love at all.
And maybe that's partially her fault.
Her one-night stand kind of lifestyle isn't exactly conducive to serious relationships. Not that Lauren really minds.
She's come to like the feeling of unfamiliar sheets against her skin. Of waking up with deep scratches and no recollection of how she got them. Of kissing strangers on the side of bars, the smell of alcohol and wet concrete sticking to her nose. She's come to like college girls. College girls who lean drunkenly into her shoulder the entire night, and yet, never call the next day. She likes all those things. She likes her life, she does. It's satisfying and fun. And she's never really met anyone who's made her think differently.
Well, she's met one person.
But she doesn't really count. Yeah, she was interesting and smart and really…good with her hands. Lauren smirks amusedly to herself before quickly sobering.
But she was married. And there's nothing satisfying or fun about chasing a married woman.
Still though…Lauren sometimes wonders what would have happened if she had tried harder, if she had stayed.
The craniofacial surgeon sits quietly for a moment more, contemplating the whole ordeal before soon realizing that the train of thought was useless. It was only going to make her want for something clearly not meant to be.
Besides…Lauren likes her life.
The surgeon begins scrolling through her email, something she was doing before her mind got derailed, and almost immediately a name pops out to her.
Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital
Miranda Bailey
Chief of Surgery
M.D.
F.A.C.S.
It's Saturday. Family Day.
And though Callie and Arizona are both on call, they've decided to make as much room as possible in their schedules for an afternoon off. Sofia was so excited at the sight of both of her mothers walking into the daycare that she nearly tripped over a building block. They took her for ice cream and then a walk around the park, and soon, they ended up home. Sofia sitting on the carpet, bent over the coffee table, intensely focused on something she was drawing. And Callie and Arizona on the couch, Callie lain horizonally, her head in her ex-wife's lap.
"So wait, wait, lemme get this straight," Callie interrupts, readjusting her head atop Arizona's thighs. The other woman looks down at her ex-wife, watching as the brunette grins in thought.
"You tried to ask a woman out over her butt wound?"
Arizona grimaces and nods, her mouth stretching downward in embarrassment as a loud, carefree laugh erupts from her ex-wife's mouth. Sofia, whose sitting on the floor scribbling furiously on a drawing pad, pauses, curiously looking over at the couch where her two mothers are huddled up. She watches intently as Arizona's grimace melts into a smile, the woman's delicate hand lifting to stroke affectionately at her ex-wife's dark tresses. After a moment of observing her mothers and assessing their closeness with innocent optimism, Sofia's curious expression calms into a happy one, and as quickly as she had stopped, she begins again excitedly doodling on her pad, every once and a while moving her gaze to the vibrant cartoons flashing past on the television screen.
"Yeah, it wasn't really my best moment," Arizona murmurs abashedly, and Callie tries valiantly to calm her own laughter, cooing apologetically at the other woman's now reddened face. "I don't know what's happened to me, Callie. I used to be so good at dating."
Callie pats the other woman's cheek affectionately, letting her thumb stroke gently against Arizona's skin. "Maybe, I ruined you for everyone else." Arizona lets out a half-scoff,half-laugh, rolling her eyes at the brunette's cocky smile. She tries to think of something witty to say back, but the familiar beep of a pager interrupts her.
Both women look at each other knowingly, sighing in slight aggravation at having their family time interrupted. Callie reaches down to her waist, unclipping her pager and bringing it up to her face. After a second of looking at it, she smiles widely.
"Not mine."
Arizona rolls her eyes, lifting her waist up just enough to unclip her pager from her pants. Karev said he'd try to let her have this whole afternoon free after she promised to let him scrub in on her doxycycline sclerotherapy. But apparently, he was overwhelmed, and one of her patients was having complications with his liver. Sofia looks at both her moms disappointedly, pouting and crossing her arms. Callie gives her an apologetic look, getting up from the couch to kneel in front of the little girl.
"I'm sorry, Cariño," the orthopedic surgeon strokes the girl's hair lightly before giving her a loud kiss on the forehead. "We'll do something tonight. Just you, me and Mama." Arizona smiles reassuringly at Sofia, getting up to plant a kiss on the girl's forehead too.
"How about on the ride to the hospital Mommy tells you about the time she sewed a man's thumb to his foot?"
Sofia looks between both of her moms disbelievingly. "That…that's not true. M-Mommy can't do that." Callie widens her eyes as if offended before picking Sofia up and bringing her eye-level.
"Mommy can do a lot of things," Callie whispers like she's letting the little girl in on a secret. Sofia's eyes dart suspiciously in between both of her parents before finally widening in awe.
"Really?" she whispers in wonder, and both women nod simultaneously.
"Really."
Bailey finally builds up the nerve to approach Callie about the craniofacial consult a week later. The woman is lingering in Alan Simpson's room, lifting a CT scan up to the beams of light streaming in from the window. His parents, a tall, thinning Spanish woman and a dark-skinned man with tired eyes, are huddled behind her, peering nervously at the x-ray of their son's deformed skull. Callie directs their attention to his facial clefts, gesturing to both carefully as if each one is delicate and important. Alan is sleeping. His face is remarkably calm, considering the rather disheveled state of his parents, and Bailey instantly notices the rather striking darkness of his hair, perhaps accentuated against the lightness of the hospital pillow case. He's beautiful even with his deformity, and as Callie gestures affectionately toward the sleeping boy, Bailey is certain that she sees it too. His parents are too worried to notice. They look as if they haven't slept in days.
Alex Karev was the only doctor who even gave Alan a second glance (all the other doctors being instantly scared away by the severity of his case), so when he referred them to and , it felt like a godsend. Both of the doctors took immediate action, and in a month or so, as had surmised, they as well as a craniofacial specialist would be working on Alan .They would be giving the boy a chance at a regular life, a regular childhood. Free of hospital visits and playground ridicule. Free of all the bad things that had encompassed him since the moment he was born.
They were giving him a chance.
So even as Alan's parents' faces crinkled with concern at the difficulty of the surgery, Callie kept a large, brilliant smile stretched across her face, reassuring them both of her and Avery's solid procedural plan. Bailey watches as the other doctor explains a few more things before deciding it was time to stop stalling.
"Dr. Torres," the Chief of Surgery leans through the doorway, smiling briefly at the parents before turning her attention back to Callie, "May I speak with you, please?"
Callie nods at Bailey, turning back to Alan's parents to excuse herself. When both women are finally outside of the door, Bailey pushes her hands into her pockets, steeling herself for the difficult conversation she's about to have. It's hard work being Chief.
"What's up?" Callie questions, an innocent smile still adorning her face. She's been smiling a lot lately Bailey notices, which probably has something to do with the fact that she and Arizona have been eating lunch together all week.
Which really only serves to make this harder.
"The craniofacial consult I'm looking at," Bailey starts to say, sighing tentatively as Callie tilts her head to the side, "It's uh…you're not going to like it."
Callie squints her eyes in confusion. "I told you. I can work with anyone you get Bailey. I just need them here as quickly as possibl—"
"It's Boswell," Bailey cuts her off, successfully silencing the taller woman. Callie's mouth hangs open just a bit like all the words she was about say have just frozen on her lips.
"Lauren Boswell?" the ortho surgeon questions though she's certain she knows the answer. They stay silent for a few moments, staring at each other, before Bailey finally gives the other woman an affirmative nod. Calle's body reacts instantly. Her jaw clenches. Her throat tightens. And she releases this half-scoff, half-grunt thing that makes Bailey back away a little.
"Um, Callie?"
The woman peers at her with hard eyes, and it's almost scary how quickly the mood has changed.
It's weird the things that people never quite get over. The things they never forget.
"I don't want her here. Thank you for informing me. Please cancel the request."
"Callie…" Bailey sighs understandingly only to be leveled by Callie's cold stare. She's never really seen the brunette like this.
"No, Bailey. Thank you, but no, thank you. Cancel it."
"Callie, I haven't made any concrete arrangements yet. I just contacted to her to see if she'd even be available. And she said she'd be willing to come—"
"Oh, I bet she did—"
"Callie." Bailey runs a frustrated hand down her face as she watches the woman cross her arms and raise one steely eyebrow. "Please, just listen to me. Boswell is the best craniofacial surgeon this side of the country." Callie scoffs loudly. "And as much as we all justifiably hate her, no one else can be here and do a Tessier Facial Cleft correction effectively within a month—"
"I said no, okay... Avery and I can wait for another surgeon," Callie asserts stubbornly, and Bailey looks on sympathetically. She knows if Ben ever cheated on her she'd never want to see the other woman either. But this is much bigger than jealousy or indignance. This isn't about Callie or Arizona or Lauren. It's about the patient.
"Can the Simpsons wait for another surgeon?" Bailey questions deliberately, watching as Callie's face softens a bit. She looks over toward the window where both tired parents can be seen looking worriedly at their son. Callie follows her gaze, her brown eyes lingering there for a moment before angrily turning away. "I know you, Callie. You always put the patient first…you know the right thing to do."
Callie looks frustratedly at the other woman for a moment before speaking again.
"How long will it take to get another good craniofacial surgeon here?"
"We'll be on a three to four month waiting list at best."
"Are you sure?"
"Certain."
There's another long lingering silence where Callie just stands there looking, arms crossed, jaw clenched. Bailey can tell she's fighting with herself. One side of her spiteful and hurt and the other side reasonable and understanding.
Eventually the brunette lets out a loud sigh, and Bailey knows one of the sides has won.
"Fine…put in a request."
Callie concedes it lowly, shaking her head as she turns away from her chief and continues walking down the hall.
Arizona's noticed Callie's sudden mood change. First, at the hospital, when she wouldn't so much as smile at the blonde in passing. And every time the pediatric surgeon tried to talk to her, she'd find some excuse to get away.
Then, on the car ride home, the brunette was basically mute. Even when Arizona turned the radio to the country station (which Callie absolutely hates), still nothing. It was like a switch had flipped and all the happy fluffiness surrounding their relationship suddenly vanished. The pretty pink bubble popped.
And honestly the blonde is so confused as to why. Everything had been going right with them for the past week. They'd been talking a lot, being affectionate. Of course, serious intimacy wasn't really on the table yet. The two hadn't so much as kissed since Callie's breakup with Penny. But Arizona found herself sort of okay with that. The lack of sex allowed a lot more time for talking and listening. And that was wonderful.
And working perfectly fine.
Until suddenly, it wasn't.
And the two women found themselves lying in bed together, strangely separate from each other. Callie's back is to her blonde companion, but Arizona can still hear her tapping quietly against the bedspread. The silence is excruciating.
"What's wrong?" Arizona finally asks, reaching over to poke lightly at the other woman's shoulder.
"Nothing," Callie mutters quietly, keeping her back to the blonde doctor. Arizona rolls her eyes, poking the woman again.
"Something's going on…just tell me."
Callie waits a beat before finally rolling onto her back, a heavy sigh falling from her lips.
"Lauren Boswell is coming back to consult with me on a case," she finally says, her eyes peering blankly at the ceiling. Arizona almost releases a gasp of surprise, but thinking better, she swallows it down. She'd have time to be shocked later. Right now, Callie needs her reassurance.
"Oh…okay," the blonde tries to say it nonchalantly, but the taller woman turns to her instantly, brow furrowed and mouth downturned.
"What's okay about the woman you cheated on me with coming back to the hospital?"
"Callie…" the blonde sighs, reaching over to take the woman's hand in hers, "Lauren doesn't matter to me…she never has."
"Even when you were sleeping with her?" The other woman bites almost reflexively though her scowl quickly gives way to an apologetic grimace. "Ugh," she groans at herself, "I don't know where that came from. I'm sorry."
Arizona simply squeezes her lover's hand before bringing it softly to her lips. "It's okay…I get it…" the blonde whispers understandingly, scooting closer to her unofficial girlfriend. "You're worried…You're worried because we're in a good place right now, and you're afraid Lauren's reappearance is going to change things for me…for us…but it's not you know…You think me leaving you is an actual possibility, but it isn't. It hasn't been for a very long time." Arizona says it firmly, but Callie makes a face, a little skeptical of the other woman's impassioned declaration. The blonde simply squeezes the woman's hand again before pressing it against her chest. "I'm serious, Calliope…I've been with a lot of people in my life, I admit. I'm not with you for lack of choices. And you shouldn't want me to be. All those other women, all those other relationships, I don't want them. I chose you. I choose you…The world is full of Lauren Boswells and Leah Murpheys and freaking Jennifers from Derm. I've been with tons of them. Tons. And none of them have mattered. None of them have meant anything to me. And I don't know if the whole soulmate thing is real or not. I-I don't know if there's just one person out there in the world for me... But I do know, nobody, not even Lauren Boswell, has made me feel the way I feel right now…just being close to you," Arizona pauses, taking a deep breath and considering her words for moment. She feels honesty swelling in her throat. "I am so in love with you, Calliope."
The blonde watches intently as Callie's eyes soften. The brunette tugs her bottom lip in between her teeth, sighing lowly as Arizona reaches up to rub lightly at the worry lines forming on the her forehead.
"Calliope Iphegenia Torres, I want to spend my life with you, okay... Trust me."
The taller woman releases a deep breath, her eyes swirling with awe…and contentment. "Okay," she says finally, her voice raspy with emotion, "I just..." Callie pauses for a moment, peering deeply into her lover's cerulean eyes, "I just really love you too." She finally finishes.
Arizona smiles widely, leaning close enough to let her nose nuzzle the other woman's. Callie brings her hand up to cup Arizona's cheek, holding her close for a moment before slowly leaning in to kiss her. The pediatric surgeon moans in surprise… but doesn't pull away, letting the woman press gentle pecks into her lips.
"I'm sorry for not trusting you," Callie whispers, pulling away from her ex-wife slightly, "I want to spend my life with you too."
"Jackson won't even look at me," April whines lowly, throwing her head back against the cushion of the leather office chair. She swivels back and forth slightly, a pitiful look adorning her features. Arizona knows the redhead is looking for comfort. Happy, superficial, best friend comfort.
But Arizona is literally functioning on three hours of sleep. She and Callie spent the entire night making out and talking, only realizing at 3 in the morning that they should probably get some rest.
On top of that, the expresso she gulped down this morning wore off 40 minutes ago, and now, all she can really think about is Callie's lips and, oddly enough, that freaking mermaid show that Sofia's obsessed with now.
It's terrible and annoying and makes absolutely no sense. If they're mermaids, why do they use submarines?
"Arizona!" April finally breaks through the blonde's "riveting" train of thought. "Are you even listening to me?"
The blonde nods quickly which seems to satisfy April for the most part who launches right back into her spiel. Arizona lets her eyes wander a bit over the other woman's head, staring blankly at the occupied hospital beds and the quickly moving nurses. Is the hospital always this frantic? Or is Arizona just never this stagnant?
A minute or so passes like that before the April finally slows down again, teetering off into a quiet question.
"What do I do? I feel like I'm losing him."
The younger woman looks up at Arizona with questioning, waiting eyes, but the pediatric surgeon can only peer blankly back, opening and closing her mouth uselessly unable to find the sappy, understanding words her friend undoubtedly needs to hear. "Um…"
Arizona tries to respond only to be interrupted by flash of gorgeously dark hair settling beside her. The blonde barely has a chance to register the other woman's presence before a steamy cup of coffee is slid onto the counter in front of her. Arizona looks in surprise from the coffee cup to the Latina beside her, her heart flutters softly when she sees a slight smirk curling on the brunette's lips
"Hi there," Callie says lowly, nudging the cup closer to her blonde companion, "I thought you might need this."
Arizona looks back toward the coffee cup like it's the Holy Grail before quickly picking it up and bringing it to her lips. When she's done, she almost moans in satisfaction.
Callie watches her amusedly. "Like it?" she asks teasingly, and the blonde nods emphatically, taking another sip of her coffee.
"I love it. I love your coffee," she all but groans, closing her eyes a bit and savoring the bittersweet taste of the beverage. Callie watches her closely, eyes darkening a bit at the unintentional innuendo.
April watches the interaction, her gaze darting suspiciously between both women. Arizona hasn't really talked about her romantic life but that hasn't stopped the redhead from noticing the sudden lack of free time the blonde has. Or how weirdly happy she's seemed lately. It's all been a bit peculiar to the young doctor, but now, watching Callie stare fixedly at the other woman, it all starts to make sense.
"Ahem," April clears her throat, loudly enough to jar both women into looking at her with wide eyes like they're genuinely surprised there's someone else in the room.
"So uh…I'll see you later. Enjoy the coffee," Callie says awkwardly after a moment before walking quickly in the other direction. Arizona just continues sipping her coffee, leaning lazily into the reception desk. She's so casual.
"What was that?" April asks bluntly, and Arizona furrows her brow like she has no idea what the redhead is referring to.
"Hm?"
"Don't 'Hm' me. You and Callie…what's going on there?"
Arizona shrugs nonchalantly, taking another sip of her coffee. "We're just…you know…"
The blonde smiles coyly, and April narrows her eyes even more.
"Spill it," the redhead commands, and Arizona releases what can only be described as a school girl giggle.
"Callie and I are kinda sorta back together…"
A/N: So honestly. Did you enjoy this chapter? How do you think Lauren's Arrival is going to go? Tell me in the reviews or PM me or message me on Tumblr. Whatever floats your boat.