Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyright materials referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
Authors Note: Thank you for the kind reviews, their make my day's light up. I'm sorry this update has taken longer. Moving and a death in the family has put me behind in everything.
People passed around the pair as they held on to each other for dear life. The entire hospital had heard about their short-lived relationship years before. Some were taken aback by the seemingly kind gesture between the two. Some thought it was sweet. Some were indifferent. But one was completely engrossed in the scene playing out between the two women. He stood in the same spot he stood in when everything began between Callie and Erica. Mark stood quietly, watching, listening, trying to discern what was happening.
Erica slowly pulled away, releasing herself from Callie's hold. They looked at each other again, less pain was evident in their eyes. Callie open her mouth to say something, nothing came out. She shook her head as if she were trying to shake the words into life. Callie couldn't find the words to explain every day that they were apart. Erica took Callie's hands into her own.
"I know." Erica said with her eyes pointed at the ground.
"What are you doing here?"
Erica's head snapped up at the question, she thought she heard hostility in Callie's voice. When she saw Callie's eyes, so full of genuine curiosity and concern, her features settled.
"It kind of just worked out this way." Erica shrugged.
Callie stayed silent for a moment. "Where were you Erica?"
Erica didn't know whether or not to answer. She deliberated for a few moments. "New York."
"What?" Callie said with obvious contempt.
Before Erica could answer Callie decided not to have that conversation in the middle of a hospital's walkway. She quickly hushed Erica and motioned that an answer wasn't necessary. Things really had changed between the women. Callie looked down at their joined hands. She rubbed her thumb over Erica's warm knuckles. Things were also still remarkably the same between them. They quietly smiled at each other, enjoying the peace that seemed to encircle them. Erica wished that things could stay this simple and enjoyable forever. Callie wished that she could stay in this moment forever.
"Can we get out of here?" Callie asked with a sprinkle of desperation in her voice that she hoped Erica didn't pick up on. Erica squared her shoulders and dropped Callie's hands. Callie's stomach leaped into her throat, she hated not knowing what this woman was thinking.
"Lead the way," Erica said with a small smile.
Callie regained her breath and did as she was told, the two were at Callie's car within a minute. Erica reached for the handle but was intercepted by Callie. Callie opened the door for Erica and curtseyed, this received a giggle from the blonde. Callie made her way to the drivers side and they began the drive to Callie's.
"Yang's probably not going to appreciate me waltzing into her apartment." Erica said absently. She watched the lights fly by the window. The clouds were a beautiful charcoal that night, Erica pushed away memories of a night similar to it. Callie took a while to reply.
"She wouldn't, but we don't live together anymore."
Erica was shocked by that statement, she turned towards Callie and saw that something was troubling her. She chose not to push the subject, she simply continued gazing through the window. They arrived at Callie's shortly. Callie again rushed over to Erica's side and opened her door for her. Another giggle from Erica's lips was Callie's reward. Instinctively, Callie urged Erica in front of her as to protect her if anything were to happen. A gesture she had seen her parents repeat numerous times throughout her childhood. Her hand hovered just above the small of Erica's back the entire walk up to the apartment.
Callie reached for her keys and had trouble opening the door. Erica stood patiently behind Callie, she examined the brunettes hair for the first time that night.
"Callie…half of your hair's gone."
As the door jerked open a throaty laugh escaped from Callie. She moved aside to let Erica in, her breath vanished as the dim light inside the apartment lit Erica's face in an angelic way. Erica placed her purse and coat down onto the small table and looked back at Callie. Callie was staring at her, and Erica never enjoyed being scrutinized. The floorboards creaked under Erica as she shifted her weight, Callie was brought back to reality at the noise.
"What I lost, you gained. You're hair's down your back and it's in a horse tail." Callie quipped as she went to pour them some wine.
"Mmmm, I don't miss hearing you use that phrase." Erica chuckled.
The women made themselves comfortable on the couch, unsaid words floated above them, waiting for their chance to slip out. The familiarity that always made their time together feel like home was settling in. It was as if they hadn't seen each other in days, not years. Before Erica could ask why the apartment was so scantly furnished, she spotted a picture in the corner of the room. She rose from her spot to look at it. Callie was with a woman in front of some sort of foliage, the woman had strikingly similar features as Erica.
"Who's this Callie?"
It was obvious that this woman had been Callie's girlfriend. Erica could tell by the vibrant smile on Callie's face. She was both intrigued and pained by this other woman, she wanted to know all about her. Callie peered around Erica to see what she was looking at, as soon as she did the blood drained out of her face.
"No one." She chastised herself for not burning that picture.
Erica replaced the picture and said, "She could be my cousin."
Callie certainly didn't want to ever talk about Arizona with Erica. She decided to avoid the subject. She shrugged dramatically and leaned back into the arm of the couch.
"I have a type."
Callie's chocolate eyes flashed with mischief, Erica's soft blue eyes mirrored Callie's recognition of the past. Callie squinted in thought, she missed having Erica in her home.
"I know I don't want to rehash every moment we shared together. Not tonight. You missed two years of my life. I missed two years of your's. I'm just glad to have you here, I'm not sure why I'm so damn happy to be looking at you…but I am. I don't want to process and over think every word that's being said. Tonight I just want to look at you and thank god for bringing you back to me. I got my best friend back tonight, everything else is secondary to you tonight. "
Callie was nearly crying by the time she finished her short rant. Erica's head had dropped and tears fell onto her crossed legs. Callie lifted Erica's chin with her hand to reveal bloodshot eyes. The Latina's heart broke, seeing Erica cry was something she had always avoided at all costs. Erica's pout made Callie feel even lousier.
"Callie…"
"We'll talk about everything eventually, but just tell me one thing right now. Okay?"
Erica nodded slowly which only made Callie's heart scream with pain.
"Tell me you're not going to leave Seattle again. Please. Just tell me you won't leave me again." Callie couldn't make eye contact with Erica.
A sob fell out of Callie, she covered her mouth. It was Erica's turn to lift Callie's chin, she looked directly into Callie's eyes and said, "Leaving you was the stupidest choice I've ever made. I don't make mistakes twice."
Tears slipped down both of their cheeks. Callie managed a big smile and took Erica's face in her hands.
"Come on, stop crying. Pretty girls shouldn't cry."
Erica smiled brightly. Exhaustion reared it's head once again and Callie yawned multiple times. Erica merely smirked at Callie's tiredness. Callie stood and extended her hand for Erica to take it.
"Come on, let's go to sleep. We've had enough excitement for one day." Callie followed her command with another yawn.
"Oh, I can sleep out here." Erica offered timidly.
Callie wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. "Get up or I'll pick you up."
Erica laughed whole heartedly, she didn't see the seriousness in Callie's face.
Callie reached down and picked up Erica as if she were a feather. She glided across the floor and into her bedroom. Erica shut her eyes, held on to Callie's neck, and waited for the both of them to hit the ground. Callie moved to the side that Erica used to occupy and was about to place her down when she saw Erica's pained expression. Callie couldn't stop herself from thinking it was the cutest thing she had ever seen.
"Erica, open your eyes."
Erica's eyebrows furrowed, then her eyes slowly opened. The look of utter astonishment was evident on her face.
"Wow."
"I'd never drop you." Callie whispered in Erica's ear. Erica could only manage a blush in response.
She laid Erica down and shuffled over to the dresser to throw her some pajamas. The women changed quickly and settled themselves under the familiar blankets. Callie didn't hesitate to pull Erica into her, she wrapped her arm around Erica's waist. The blonde covered Callie's hand with her own. Callie buried her face in Erica's neck which drew a sigh from Erica. She snuggled into the strong embrace.
"Sleep." Callie whispered almost inaudibly.