Characters belong to Shonda. The rest is mine.
Chapter Fifteen
ARIZONA'S POV
One month later…
God, I could watch her forever. Seeing my wife on stage. Hearing that beautiful voice. Yeah, I could never tire of this. This lifestyle and this care-free living we have been experiencing for the past few months. I may have been unsure before I flew out to Callie and joined her for her tour, but it's what I needed. It's what we both needed. So much has happened this past year or so and honestly, I sometimes wonder how we managed to pull through. I know we have an intense and incredible amount of love for each other, but is that always enough? At one time, I wouldn't have been so sure, but now? Now I know our love will always trump everything else. How can it not? When we aren't together, I feel like I can't breathe without her. When we are together, it's so perfect that I'm not sure I'll ever survive without her presence. It's a crazy feeling sometimes, but I wouldn't want it to be any other way. How she looks at me. How she gives me one of her beautiful smiles every morning when we wake. Yeah, our love will always get us through. I know that now.
Settled back in my seat, I watch my wife prepare to play her final song of her tour. It's been an experience sharing the tour life with Callie, but I'm happy I came. I'm happy I was able to take this all in. Honestly, I don't know how she does it. It's constant. Non-stop. I know she loves it and it's who she is, but I'm tired just watching her some days. She was born to do this. I guess that's the difference between us both. This was always supposed to be Callie's career. No matter how many times in the past she has expressed her desire to leave it all behind. No matter how many times she has offered to drop everything for me. I could never allow her to do that, and I didn't. I had to show her that I was here for the personal side of her…and the professional. She is my absolute world and she knows that wherever she is…I will be. She's my drug. My addiction. She is my everything and one day, this will all end and we will be at home together, with our family. Yes, I don't know when that will be…but I know it will happen. It has to happen.
Since we discussed starting a family, it's all I've thought about. I know I never wanted kids and I know at one time, it broke us…but I've seen a different side to my wife over the years. I've seen how much love she has to give. Love to give me, and our kids. I do not know what the future holds for either of us, but I know that in ten…twenty years down the line, we will still wake beside each other. We will still share dinner together every evening. If this tour life once again becomes a thing, I will be here and be cheering her on like I always have. Hopefully, our kids too.
Smiling as my wife finds my eyes, she gives me the most gorgeous smile I've ever witnessed and clears her throat. "Okay, guys." Heading for her piano, she attaches her mic to its stand and takes a seat. "This is the last one from me. You have all been awesome, but it's time to give my wife my all." Those deep brown eyes boring into my soul, a familiar sound filters through the arena I've been sitting in for the past hour or so.
So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone, you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face
If a great wave shall fall
It would fall upon us all
And between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
A tear slipping down my face, this song takes me back to the night I met my wife. The first time I ever heard that incredible voice. How it pulled me in. How it made me stand up and listen. How it told me that one day…Calliope Torres would be my everything. She's ending this where it all began. This song. Our song.
And maybe I'll work out
A way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days
If a great wave shall fall
It'd fall upon us all
Well I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
Yeah, this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. Nobody on this earth could ever compare to Callie and nobody could ever catch my attention long enough to even try. Being here with her is something else, but I just hope she knows what she's doing. Giving up her career to start a family is what she has her heart set on, but can she really leave this all behind? Can she really be content with family life? I don't know, but she knows that down the line, whatever decision she makes…I'll always stand by her.
Run away with my heart
Run away with my hope
Run away with my love
I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, in your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine
I'll go wherever you will go
If I could turn back time
I'll go wherever you will go
I'll go wherever you will go
All that time ago when I found this woman in a local bar in Seattle, she was heartbroken. She was lost. Sure, she had her music to keep her sane, but she was so very lost. I could see it in her eyes. I could feel it when she had to leave for another city the first time around. How she held onto me and told me she didn't want to go. God, we've come so far. Did I ever imagine my life would turn out this way? No, never. I didn't think it was possible to fall so head over heels in love with another woman. I'd spent so long building up my walls that I barely even recognised when someone was into me. Callie, though? Callie was everything I could've ever asked for in life. She is my best friend. My soulmate. She is the only woman to ever steal my heart. She may be tough and she may know exactly what she is doing, but I see beneath that. I see the emotional side of her. I see the woman who worries if she is good enough. The woman who is undecided and fearful of her future. I see every possible side there is to Calliope Torres and that to me is an absolute blessing. I don't need to worry about what is to come and I don't need to worry if this is going to work. It is. There are no two ways about it.
Watching as my wife stands to the roar of the crowd, she gives her fans one final smile and turns back to face me. Mouthing 'I love you', Callie nods slowly, tears in her eyes and a small smile curling on her mouth. Of course, she is going to be emotional. Of course, she is going to wonder where the hell her life is about to go. My job is to now be the one who is there for her. I know she will be upset in the next few days, but nothing is decided. Nothing is set in stone. She knows that if she wants this all again she can totally have it. We have decisions to make…but nothing has to happen overnight. Standing and heading for the back of the stage, I straighten out my shoulders and wait for my wife to join me.
Come on, Calliope. Come home to me…
We've been back at our hotel suite for a little over an hour and my wife is a little quieter than I expected her to be. I know we both have some big changes coming, but we have each other and that is the only thing that matters right now. Callie knows I support her and she also knows that I want her to live her best life. If that is with kids and music, then so be it. I'm done, though. My career is about to end and honestly, I feel like I can finally breathe. The thought of not being stuck in that office every day and handing out demands is refreshing, and to be perfectly honest…I can't say I'll miss it. My plans…to become freelance like I was a long time ago. I have the funds for me to do so, and I know that I will enjoy and appreciate my photography a lot more. I've loved working at the magazine, but it's time for a change. A change I believe I need.
"You're quiet." I approach my wife with a glass of red wine. "Did you want to talk?"
"No, I'm okay." She glances up at me from the window seat she has taken and removes her wine glass from my hand. "Did you enjoy the show?"
"You know I did." I give her a full smile. "A little emotional, huh?"
"Mm…" She nods. "I figured it would be."
"You know, you are allowed to feel sad, Calliope."
"Sad?" She furrows her brow. "Why would I be sad?"
"Because you just ended tour life and possibly music for the foreseeable." I give my wife a sad smile and she drops her legs, motioning for me to sit in her lap.
"I have…but look at what I'm gaining." Her arms wrap around my waist. "How could I ever be sad about that?"
"You know what I mean." I give her a knowing look. "I know you're excited about the future and I know it's going to be something kinda beautiful, but your career is your life."
"Wrong." She shakes her head. "You are my life, Arizona."
"Callie…"
"No." She stops me. "I know what you're saying and I appreciate that but this is happening. Our future? It's totally happening and I cannot wait for our plans…"
"Yeah?"
"God, yes." She leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. "I cannot wait to get home with you and just relax…take all of this in."
"Yeah, I don't feel like you've really had time to process everything," I admit. "You've barely had time to breathe."
"But…" She smiles against my mouth. "…from this moment on, I have all the time in the world to relax and process everything. To breathe."
"You do." I smile. "You definitely do."
A comfortable silence falling between us, I rest my head against my wife's shoulder and release a slight sigh. Yes, things have been up and down during this tour, but it is ending in my wife's arms. Nobody meddled and nobody interrupted our flow. Sure, I had to come to terms with the fact that Jaida was no longer around, but I'm dealing with that in my own time. I don't know how I feel about it a month on, but I'm not about to let it affect me. I'm not about to allow it to get between my wife and I. We are safe and we are happy. Surely that is the only thing that matters. Of course, I'm not happy about how things were dealt with, but I also know that I cannot change it. Would I bring her back if I had the chance? Honestly, I'm not sure I would.
"You know, of all the time we've spent together since we met…" Callie runs her fingers through my hair. "This has to be the most perfect."
"It is?" I tilt my head up.
"Mmhmm." She nods. "Being here with you tonight…it's the beginning of a new chapter for us."
"I love you, Calliope." My voice breaking, I try to keep my emotions in check. "You know what you want in life and you know exactly how to get it…but this?" I sigh. "All of this with you? It's just…I have no words to describe how proud of you I am. For what you have achieved. For how you have overcome everything and made the very best for yourself. For us." Taking her hand in my own, I squeeze it tight. "If I could marry you all over again right now…I would."
"Who'd have thought all that time ago in Seattle…this would be the outcome?"
"I kinda knew." I shrug, a slight smirk appearing on my mouth. "Okay, I didn't, but deep down…I believe I knew."
"Me too." My wife gives me a full smile. "We cannot go wrong, right?"
"Never." I shake my head. "Everything is too perfect and amazing for us to ever go wrong."
"God, I could hold you forever right now." Her head resting against my own, our hands settle on my thigh and silence once again takes over. We may be thousands of miles away from home, but it doesn't matter. Callie is my home. She always will be. If we are sitting out looking over the lake back in Seattle or holed up in a hotel suite in Europe, it doesn't matter. If never did and it never will. "Arizona…"
"Yeah?" I lift my head and find my wife's eyes. "What is it?"
"You think I'll make a good mom?" A flash of uncertainty in her eyes, I furrow my brow. "I mean, I can do this, right?"
"Damn right you can," I say without any hesitation. "You're Callie Torres…you've totally got this. We both have."
"Just…worried is all."
"Me too, beautiful." I give her a sad smile as my thumb brushes over her bottom lip. "But we have each other and tons of love to give…"
"That we do." She agrees. "I've got so much love that I feel like I'm about to burst."
"So long as you reserve some for me…I'm not worried." Climbing off of my wife, I pull her up to her feet and take her wine glass from her hand. "Are we celebrating all of this, or?"
"Celebrating?" She narrows her eyes. "In what way…"
"In whatever way you wanted to." My body suddenly being forced back and pushed down onto the bed, my wife settles between my legs, her eyes never leaving my own. "Yeah, I guess this way could work."
"You guess?" She snorts. "No, beautiful…this is the only way to celebrate."
Moaning as my wife's lips trail my jawline, she disappears down my body and begins removing my clothes. We don't have to leave until late tomorrow so tonight can get as wild as it wants to. I'm not concerned. Making my wife feel good will always be my go-to method and that will never change. Seems the tables have turned tonight, though. Callie is already parting my legs and my body is already responding. Whatever happens from here on out…I'll take. I'll take it all and then some. Nothing is certain in life, but the love we have for each other is. It is the one thing that keeps this alive between us. It is the one thing that above all else can never be destroyed. No exes. No harsh words. Our love is the only thing we need.
Calliope Torres is the only thing I'll ever need…
That's a wrap.
Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed this fic. Your support means so much to me.
This version of 'Wherever You Will Go' is the Charlene Soraia version.