Title: She's My Wife (Secret Santa Fic for pensco_927)
Author:captstarbuck
Beta/Editor:Stacy d'Lacy (best beta on the planet)
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: T
Secret Santa Prompt: Callie and Arizona have reunited, but are dating slowly (still living apart while they get to know who they are now), and no one knows. What happens to their relationship when their friends at the hospital decide to get involved to make them move on with their lives? Rating: Author's preference
Disclaimers: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material 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.
Chapter 6
Standing in front of the door to Jackson and April's apartment, Arizona smoothed the non-existent wrinkles from her navy blue dress. The dress had a conservative cut, but still had an elegant flair. The blonde was a little late, but it couldn't be helped. She'd planned on going to the dinner party with Callie, but she'd been called into the hospital. Surgery hadn't been needed, but she was at the hospital longer than she'd wanted to be. She'd been left with just enough time to go to Alex's house, shower and change. Fortunately, she'd already picked out her shoes and dress, saving her some time.
She quickly gave the door a few sharp knocks. April opened the door almost immediately.
"Arizona, you made it," the younger woman said, greeting her friend with a quick hug.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Not a problem. We're still having drinks. Dinner won't be ready for another half an hour."
"Am I the last one?" Arizona asked as she followed April into the apartment.
"Yes, but Owen got here about fifteen minutes ago." April lowered her voice. "He brought Dr. Shepherd as his date."
"Derek is his date?" Arizona asked confused.
"No, the other Shepherd, silly," April gently smacked Arizona's arm. "Amelia."
"Oh, right."
"You and Callie are the only ones who didn't bring a date. Dr. Bailey brought Ben, and Dr. Webber is here with Jackson's mom." The younger woman leaned in and whispered. "Jackson's still not too thrilled about that."
"He'll get over it," Arizona said encouragingly.
"Can I get you a drink?"
"White wine, and I can get it myself. Just point me in the right direction."
"Bar's set up in the kitchen."
Arizona nodded her hellos to Ben and Bailey as she passed them on the way to the kitchen. She spotted Callie standing next to Meredith. Derek was on the other side of the room, and was speaking with Jackson and Owen.
As she reached for the bottle of wine, she heard someone else come into the room.
"Dr. Robbins, you made it," Vanessa Avery said in a husky voice.
"Yes, I did," she said and wondered if she sounded inane. "I got called into the hospital."
"I was afraid you weren't going to be here. I was preparing myself to be disappointed with your absence. Imagine my delight to see you arrive."
Vanessa gaze was intense and there was no doubting the intent in her voice.
"Well, yes, I'm happy to be here to. April is one of my closest friends at the hospital."
Arizona looked back out toward the living room. She caught Callie's eye. She hoped Callie understood that she wanted her to come over.
The Latina sipped from her glass of wine and tried to surreptitiously keep an eye on Arizona. Meredith stepped back and with slightly glassy eyes studied the Latina.
"Oh. My. God," Meredith suddenly said.
"What?"
"You had a cheeseburger last night!" she blurted.
"What? No, I didn't," Callie said, chugging down the remaining wine in her glass.
"Yes, you did. I can tell. That's why you wanted Sofia to have a sleepover."
"You don't know what you're talking about," Callie said, but she was unable to hide the guilt in her voice. She couldn't believe Meredith could tell; that it was that obvious.
"Who was it? Who'd you sleep with? Was it hot nurse Nancy? I bet it was."
"No, it wasn't."
"You know I'm going to find out, Callie."
"There's nothing for you to find out," Callie said, excusing herself. She'd seen the look on Arizona's face and could tell the blonde was uncomfortable. "I'm gonna get another drink."
"Get me one, too, please," Meredith requested.
"Right, right," Callie muttered as she casually made her way across the room. She stopped and spoke briefly to Amelia and Owen, all the while she kept an eye on Arizona.
"So, Arizona, I was wondering if you'd be interested in having dinner with me some night next week?" Vanessa stated.
Had Arizona been single and not in love with Callie, she might have considered the invitation. Vanessa was extremely attractive. She was a woman who had everything Arizona used to be interested in; great beauty, obvious intelligence and plenty of charm. Now, all the blonde wanted was Callie, and Callie only.
"I'm sorry, Vanessa, but I don't think that will be possible," Arizona said politely. "I'm really busy with fetal surgery fellowship and I still help out in Peds, too."
"I'm sure you could find the time. There's this restaurant that Jackson told me about that I'm just dying to try. You wouldn't want me to dine alone."
Arizona almost laughed out loud. "Oh, Vanessa, I don't think you'll have any trouble finding someone to have dinner with."
"I don't want to take just any someone to dinner. I'd rather take you."
"I'm flattered, Vanessa. Really, I am. I just can't go to dinner with you."
Callie sauntered into the kitchen, her hips swaying in a manner that she knew Arizona appreciated. After the night (and morning) she'd spent making love with Arizona, she was sure that every little movement would affect the blonde. Seeing the frank look of lust and love rolled into one that was currently displayed on her wife's face let Callie know she was right.
"Oh, Vanessa, I don't know if you've had a chance to meet Dr. Torres."
"No, I haven't."
Vanessa had been a little late to the dinner party as well, and she'd been more focused on looking for Arizona than in meeting the other doctors. She had met a few of them, but she hadn't talked to the very attractive Latina.
"Callie, this is Vanessa Avery, Jackson's cousin," Arizona said, introducing the two women.
Callie stuck her hand out and Vanessa eagerly grasped it. The lawyer knew she was going to have to reassess her opinion of the staff at her cousin's hospital. There were clearly some very attractive women working there.
"Vanessa, this is Callie Torres, Grey-Sloan's Orthopedic goddess and resident bad ass," Arizona said with a smile. "And my wife," she added proudly, her hand slipping around Callie's waist.
It was almost comical to see the look on Vanessa's face change from intrigued to shock. "Wife?" she asked, her hand falling from Callie's.
"Mmhmm," Arizona said with a nod.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Vanessa stuttered her apology. "April never said you were married."
"I am. Happily, I might add," Arizona said, taking Callie's hand.
Vanessa quietly excused herself and backed out of the kitchen area.
"That was awesome," Callie said. So impressed with Arizona's handling of the flirtatious Vanessa Avery, the Latina forgot for the moment where she was. "Really awesome," she said as she kissed Arizona.
"What are you two doing?" Miranda Bailey said loudly, drawing the attention of the rest of the guests to the two women. "How long has this been going on?"
"Oh, hey, Bailey." Arizona blushed with the attention from the others.
April who had been on her way to the kitchen to get the food ready to serve, stopped dead in her tracks. She was shocked. Bailey's commanding voice had got April's attention in time for her to see Callie kissing Arizona.
"Arizona!" April chastised her friend. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I knew it," Meredith smirked, coming over to the couple. "You were with Arizona last night."
"Yeah, you caught me, Grey. Big whoo," Callie said sarcastically.
"How long?" April persisted. "How long has this been going on?
"Are you back together? What's going on?" Meredith asked.
"Enough," Callie said, her voice stopping everyone from talking at once. "Arizona and I, we're together. We have been for about two months. Stop making such a big deal, okay?"
"I'm going to have to change the seating arrangements," April grumbled, causing Arizona to laugh. She walked past her friend. "You should've told me. I wouldn't have tried to fix you up with Vanessa," she whispered.
"Sorry, April," Arizona said contritely.
"You and I are going to talk this week," April hissed at her friend as she moved to take the food out of the oven.
Arizona nodded. She could only imagine the fallout from keeping it a secret from April. She looked over at Bailey who was glaring at them. Arizona smiled and pulled Callie closer. The general surgeon's face softened at the sight.
"It's about damned time," the short woman said as she poured herself a drink.
"Glad you approve, Bailey."
"Did I say I approve? Did you hear me say that?"
"Thank you, Miranda," Arizona said softly. "It's nice to find out that someone was still rooting for us, even when we couldn't."
"Well, yes, I was," Bailey sputtered, not keen on overly sentimental moments.
"Dinner is ready," April announced after she and Jackson had placed all the food out onto the center island counter.
Callie and Arizona hung back from the small line of doctors who queued up with their plates in hand.
"I love you, Calliope," Arizona said, kissing her wife on the cheek.
"I love you, too."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After dinner with the rest of the board, Arizona and Callie decided to stop at Joe's for a drink. They'd dropped Arizona's car off at the house first, then rode together to the bar. As per usual for a Saturday night, the crowd at the bar was large.
"I think I see a couple of spots at the bar," Callie said.
"Oh, good. Would you order me a glass of wine? I need to use the restroom."
"Sure. I'll save you a seat."
The two women parted, Callie weaving through the crowd to the bar to grab the last two seats available while Arizona made her way to the restroom.
"Hey, Joe," Callie said as she sat down at the bar. "White wine and a shot of tequila."
"Hey, Callie. I haven't seen you in a while. What's new?"
Callie grinned, eager to share her news with her old friend. "Well, Joe – "
"Dr. Torres?" a familiar voice interrupted.
Callie pivoted on her bar stool. Nancy slid onto the empty barstool beside the Latina.
"Oh, hey, Nancy."
"I'm surprised, but pleased to see you out tonight. Can I buy you a drink?"
"Oh, no thanks. I'm all set," Callie said, holding up her tequila."
"Well I hope you'll let me get the next one."
"Um, no. I'm only staying for the one," Callie explained.
"That's too bad," Vanessa said after ordering another drink for herself. "You look great."
"Thanks," Callie said. "Dinner with the rest of the board tonight," she explained.
"Sure I can't convince you to stay for one more?" the scrub nurse said. "I'm sure I could make it worth your while to stay a little longer."
Callie shook her head and chuckled. She had to give Nancy credit for her persistence, no matter how unwelcome it was.
"No, I don't think so," Callie said.
Arizona had seen the interloper perch herself on the bar stool next to Callie. She pushed her way back through the crowd, excusing herself as politely as she could when someone blocked her path.
"Did you save me a seat?" she said to Callie as she approached the two women.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Is this your seat?" Nancy apologized, hopping down from the stool. "I didn't know."
"No worries," Arizona said with an overly chipper voice. "I didn't need it until now."
"Nancy, do you know Dr. Robbins?" Callie said, a look of mischief in her eyes that Arizona picked up.
"No, I don't believe we've met," the other woman said.
"Dr. Robbins, this is Nancy, the new scrub nurse."
Arizona nodded her greeting as she sat down on the bar stool and picked up her glass of wine.
"Nancy, this is Dr. Arizona Robbins."
Nancy had heard a few things about the blonde doctor perched on the bar stool in front of her. She knew that Dr. Robbins was a member of the board, and she recalled hearing something about the woman being an amputee. Her gaze dropped to the blonde's legs, and she confirmed the gossip she'd heard.
"Dr. Robbins is my wife," Callie said.
The scrub nurse's eyes widened and she mumbled her apologies then quickly left. The way she looked as she slunk off and disappeared into the crowd reminded Arizona of a dog with its tail tucked between its legs.
Arizona laughed. "You took way too much pleasure in doing that, Callie."
"Well, you had your turn at dinner. It was only fair that I got my turn." Callie finished her drink off. "Besides, it's nice being able to call you my wife again."
"Definitely," Arizona agreed, taking Callie's hand as she leaned over to give her wife a kiss.
They chatted briefly with Joe who looked more than just a little pleased to see the two women reunited. He was so pleased, in fact, that he offered the next round on the house, but the couple asked for a raincheck. Now that they no longer lived within walking distance, they were more careful of their drinking habits.
"It's getting late," Callie said as stood up.
"You want to leave now?"
"I do." She helped Arizona down from the bar stool and pulled her close. "Let's go home, Arizona."
"Callie?" Arizona wasn't sure what Callie meant. "Do you mean what I think you mean?"
"Yes. It's time for you to come home."