I don't own anything…all credit goes to ABC/Shondaland
AN: It seems people don't really like Mark. I thought he was nice, but nonetheless there will be a plan put in place for him to leave. Thank you again for reading.
Chapter Sixteen
Callie's POV
Christmas and New Year's came and went and everyone is back in their regular schedules of life. Arizona is back at school teaching, and I'm at the hospital continuing to work my way up to an attending position. I've been set on orthopedics for a while now, and the current attending has taken me under their wing and helped me on my way. Arizona and I are in a really good place. She usually comes over for dinner three to four times a week, and we try to go out at least one time by ourselves once a week. It's been hard to do that though because of my schedule and constantly being paged into work, but we've managed. We usually end up spending the nights together in my apartment unless one of us has an obligation. This week she has been around more because Mark is away at another hospital consulting on a case. Right now I just sat down at a table in the cafeteria for a late lunch with Cristina. Arizona is meeting me in a few minutes to pick up Sofia she they can come home together.
"So what are your plans for Valentine's Day with your blonde chick?" Cristina rattles off while munching on some french-fries.
"Nothing, she doesn't want to do anything, which I find absurd." I say dejectedly.
"Really? I thought she would be excited for it. She's suck a perky girl and whenever I'm around you two you guys are all so lovey dovey, I just figured you guys would have planned something months ago."
"That's what I said!" Arizona and I had this conversation a few days ago. She doesn't like her birthday and she doesn't like Valentine's Day, which I thought was crazy. How can you not like a holiday devoted to love? Maybe I just love love too much. "I have planned something though. Instead of going out on the actual 14th, I'm going to take her to dinner on the 13th. That way she can't say that I took her out on Valentine's Day." I say happy with my plan.
"Whatever," Cristina says with an eye roll. "Look, Mer and I are off on Valentine's Day, but Owen and Derek aren't so we are going to Joe's to drink. You and your girl should come."
"As tempting as that sounds," I say sarcastically, "I'm on call and I have Sofia so I don't think I could make it."
"Aww, come on, Cal! We used to go to Joe's all the time and drink. It's okay to get out, ya know? You don't even have to drink since your on-call, but I think you should come out with us. I've met Arizona like twice, she's slightly annoying, but I still want to talk to her more and try and understand what you see in her." Cristina says.
"I hear you, and it does seem like a fun idea, but I have Sofia. I'm not bringing her into a bar." I deadpan.
"Fair enough, but I'm pretty sure the hospital has a twenty-four seven daycare. One night won't harm her. Doesn't she have little friends she can play blocks with or something?"
"Cristina…" I say with a glare.
"Look, just think about it, okay?"
"Fine, okay. I will think about and talk it over with Arizona."
"Excellent! It seems like now is a perfect time because I see her walking into the cafeteria." She says pointing behind me. I turn around and am met with my blue-eyed beauty. My day automatically gets better when I see her.
"Hey babe." Arizona says coming to sit next to me. I give her a peck on the lips and she greets Cristina.
"Cristina it's nice to see you again." Arizona says with a grin that lights up the room.
"Yeah, yeah you too. Callie has some things to talk to you about, don't you?" She says with a smirk on her face.
"Don't you have a heart to go repair or something?" I grit out.
"Fine, I'll go, but talk to her please." Cristina says getting up and leaving the table.
"Soooo, what was that all about?" Arizona asks me.
"Well I actually have two things to talk to you about. First, I know you much you hate Valentine's Day, but—"
"Callie, please not this again. I love you and I will tell you that everyday, but we don't need to celebrate a ridiculous greeting card holiday."
"Just hear me out, okay?"
"Fine." She says rolling her eyes.
"I want to take you out, well me and Sof, but that's the same thing. Just think of it as a date with your two favorite girls. Plus, we will go out on the 13th, so technically it's not Valentine's Day." I say pointedly.
"Seriously, Calliope?"
"Please, Arizonaaaaa," I whine. "Just do this for me and Sof? I won't buy you a card or flowers or chocolate. It will just be you, me, and Sofia."
"Only because I'll do anything for you guys, but it still seems kind of sneaky." Arizona says giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Yayyy!" I exclaim like a teenage girl.
"So what's the second thing you wanted to talk to me about?" She says while popping a grape from my fruit cup into her mouth.
"Cristina and Meredith are going to Joe's on Valentine's Day to drink. They want us to come along. I told her I would think about it. I'm actually on call, so I doubt that I'll be able to drink plus I have Sofia, but Cristina just thinks I should let her stay in daycare for the evening."
"Hmm, well what do you think?" She asks.
"It seems like it could be fun. Cristina and Meredith are fun to hangout with, but sometimes they get lost in their own little world. Surprisingly, it was Cristina who asked about inviting you because she wants to get to know you more."
"Really?"
"Yeah, and knowing them two they are probably inviting a lot of people from the hospital, so it should be a nice gathering." I say convincing myself more and more.
"Well I'm down if you are." Arizona says simply.
"So you'll go out on Valentine's Day with them, but not me?" I ask fake upset.
"It's not like that, Calliope. This will be fun! It will be drinking, talking, and mingling. Not cheesy romantic stuff."
"Sure…"
"Cheer up, babe. It will be fun, plus technically we will be going out together on Valentine's Day so think of it as a win-win situation."
"I guess, I'm just happy to spend any time I can with you."
"That's what I like to hear." Arizona says before giving me a chaste kiss on the lips. "Now, I came here to pick up a young, nine-month old Latina because her mommy has to work late tonight. So I say we head up to daycare, so you can get back to work and come home to us as soon as possible."
"Okay, let's go upstairs." I say and we walk out of the cafeteria hand in hand.
The night has come for our dinner pre-Valentine's Dinner. I decided to go to a casual restaurant because I didn't want to make it a big deal for Arizona. Sofia is dressed up in a pink dress and looks absolutely adorable. I'm wearing jeans and a buttoned down shirt, and Arizona is wearing slacks with green sleeveless top. We've been seated for twenty minutes and our food just arrived. Arizona and I take turns feeding Sofia and we engage in some light conversation.
"Thank you for doing this, Arizona."
"Hey, my girls wanted to go out to dinner, I wasn't going to say no even if it's your way of getting me to do Valentine's Day."
"Maybe this could be our little tradition…"
"Maybe…"
"Okay, so I know I said no gifts, but—"
"Calliope you didn't." Arizona says coolly.
"I did because I just couldn't help myself." I reach into my bag and hand her a small box. She reluctantly takes it, but I plead for her to open it. As soon as she takes off the top the lets out a small gasp and smiles.
"Calliope…"
"Do you like it?" I ask nervously.
"I love it! I feel terrible because I didn't get you anything."
"That's okay, I wasn't expecting anything, but I just wanted to get you something nice, plus it matches mine except yours is gold." I got her the same heart-shaped pendant she got me for Christmas only it's signed ' We love you -CT & ST' for my initials and Sofia's. Sloan is Sof's middle name with Torres being her last name. I was worried that Arizona would be upset that I got her a gift, but she seems happy and that's all I wanted.
"Calliope Torres everyday you surprise me. I love you so much." She says before leaning across the table and giving me a kiss. When she goes to pull and away I put my hand on her cheek and hold her against my lips for a little bit longer.
"We love you too, don't we baby girl?" I say looking at Sofia and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Arizona puts the necklace on then picks up Sofia to bring her to sit in her lap.
"I think Miss Sofia likes the my new necklace." The blonde says while little chubby hands grab at the new jewelry on her neck.
"She helped me pick it out." I say with a grin and taking a sip of my drink.
"Calliope, can I ask you something?" She says hesitantly.
"Of course, babe."
"Umm…how come we don't live together?"
Not expecting that to come out her mouth, I cough a little and look at her slightly confused, "Sorry, what?"
"It's just that I'm basically at your place all the time and whenever we say 'going home' we always go back to your place, and I love it."
"Oh, um, I haven't really thought about it. I mean you just moved into your place a few months ago, I didn't think you wanted to move again." I say honestly.
"Well do you want to live together?"
"I would love to live with you, Arizona. There is nothing more that I want then seeing you everyday."
"So it's settled then, we should move in together." She says confidently.
"Babe, I think we need to talk about this a little more."
"What is there to discuss, I can move into your place. I mean I still have some boxes that I haven't even opened in my guest room. Really I'm just bringing my clothes over and a few other things. Plus you don't need to move you and Sofia over to my place, that would be a lot of work."
"Arizona…it's not just that easy."
"Uh, yeah it is Calliope." She says getting slightly upset, "I mean unless you don't want to live together…"
"That's not the issue, Arizona. I just always imagined my next place would be a house. I want to buy a house and have a backyard, guestrooms, a big kitchen, a nice master bathroom…my lease is up on my place this summer, and so I was probably going to start looking around."
"Okay, let's get a house then." She says like it's the most obvious answer.
"Arizona that's a huge deal!" I exclaim.
"I'm aware, Calliope, but I want us to live together. If you want a house then we can start looking at houses. In the mean time I can move some of my stuff into your place. I don't want to wait until the summer to live with you." She says grabbing my hand on the table. "Look, you and Sof are my world. I know it's kind of quick, but I really do want this, Calliope. I want a house with you."
"Arizona, are you sure? A house is a huge commitment. I'm not doubting your love for me and Sofia, but…"
"If it will ease your mind, how about we revisit the house thing in a few weeks, right now I can just move in my stuff from across the hall and we can start there, okay?"
"Okay." I say with a smile.
"Sof, you hear that? We are going to live together! Does that sound fun?" Arizona says picking up Sofia and bouncing her up and down in her lap. Sofia just grins and makes some noises.
"I never thought that this would come out of dinner tonight." I say letting out a laugh.
"I've been thinking about it for a while, I just thought I'd say something tonight."
"I'm glad you did." I say leaning over to give her another kiss.
We finish dinner and decide to go out to get some ice cream before heading back home and making sundaes. Arizona and I have a weird obsession with ice cream and I blame her for it ever since our first date. Now I can't go almost a week without getting a fix of it. After we get back and finish our dessert we decide to give Sofia a bath together. In the middle of bath time I hear a knock on the door, and I scrunch my face trying to think about who it could be.
"Can you finish up in here? I ask Arizona.
"Yeah, of course."
I grab a towel on my way out of the bathroom attempting to dry myself before I open the door. Another knock comes at the door and I hurry up and open it," Mark?!"
"Hey, Cal"
"Uh, what are you doing back? I thought you were gone for a few more days."
"Callie, we need to talk…" I can tell right away something isn't right.
"Okay…what's up?" I ask shakily.
"I'm moving. I'm leaving Seattle." He says softly and looking away from.
"I'm sorry, WHAT?!"