January 2007 - Part 1
Cristina Yang pushed open the door to the residents' locker room. She was half an hour early for her shift so she was surprised to see her roommate sitting in front of her locker. Callie was notorious for squeezing out every last second of sleep she could. Probably needed to get away from the munchkins, she thought as a way of explaining Callie's early presence. She almost shivered at the thought of waking up in a house with kids.
"Torres," she muttered in greeting.
"Yang."
"What are you doing?" she asked as she approached Callie.
"Just hanging up some artwork Vivvy and Cam made for me."
Cristina looked at the locker door that was covered with photos of the twins and drawings they'd made. "You'd think you were their mother," she commented.
"What?"
"You have more shit hanging up in your locker than Bailey does of Little Tuck." She pointed at Bailey's locker which had a few photos on it.
"Well, there are two of them, so of course there would be more," Callie tried to justify.
"Right." Cristina returned to her own locker and pulled out a set of scrubs. "What's for breakfast?"
Callie rolled her eyes as she pulled her scrub shirt over her head. Cristina had been mooching her breakfast from her ever since Arizona had started packing her one. And Arizona always packed extra, knowing Cristina would expect Callie to share. "Homemade blueberry bran muffins. You have to get your own coffee." She untucked her long dark hair from her collar, then picked up the brown paper bag.
Cristina snorted derisively. "Bran muffins? Only eighty year old women in nursing homes eat bran muffins."
"More for me then," Callie smirked as she held the bag high out of Cristina's reach.
"Hey, wait! I never said I wouldn't eat them."
"Fine." Callie took two of the muffins out and handed them to Cristina. The muffins were loaded with blueberries and she could see the light coating of sugar crystals on the top. "Here."
Cristina quickly began eating one of the muffins, the other still clutched in her hand. "These are good. They don't even taste healthy." She mumbled a 'thanks' between bites.
"You should thank Arizona since she's been feeding you on and off for the past two weeks."
"I stay off her service. Isn't that enough of a thank you?"
Callie pondered Cristina's statement. Cristina in peds? She shuddered and wondered who would be more frightened, Cristina or the children. "Okay, you have a point, but a thank you would be nice." Cristina shrugged her shoulders and started to eat the second muffin. "You know, Yang, if you don't, I won't share any more of my meals with you."
"Wha!" Crumbs spilled from Cristina's mouth. "You can't do that."
"Sure I can. Arizona and her mom make me meals, not you. I just happen to share them with you out of the goodness of my heart."
"And you always have extra, for me."
"I don't have to share with you. I can always find someone else."
Cristina scowled as she contemplated the pros and cons of having to thank the perky peds fellow. "Fine," she reluctantly said. "I'll thank her the next time I see her." In her mind, she was planning all the ways to avoid Arizona.
"Great!"
"Whatever."
Callie chuckled to herself as she pulled on her scrub pants, then her lab coat. She knew that Arizona was planning on delivering her lunch later in the day. If Cristina wanted any of it, she was going to have to thank Arizona. "How long is your shift?"
"Twenty-four hours. Seven to seven. Rounds, then the pit, You?"
"Same. I have a few patient follow-ups, but then I'm working the pit, too."
"Not crazy about working New Year's Eve, but I think I'd rather work a shift ending New Year's morning than have to come in on New Year's Day with a hangover. Maybe we'll get some big trauma cases or something," she continued hopefully. "I'm itching to get into the OR."
"Yeah, without any traumas, Ortho has been dead," Callie commented as they left the room. "I'll see you down there."
# # # # # # # # # #
Arizona took the pan of brownies out of the oven and set it aside to cool. She had New Year's Eve off, but had to work the swing shift the following day. The plan was for Callie to come back to the house and sleep for awhile, then she'd be with the girls while Arizona worked. Cam and Vivvy and Callie were all looking forward to it.
"What should we make Callie for lunch today?" she asked Cam and Vivvy who were seated at the breakfast bar.
"Peanut butter and jelly?" Cam suggested.
"Fish sticks?" Vivvy added her own choice.
Arizona shook her head at the options and opened the refrigerator. She rummaged around in it before pulling out an assortment of vegetables and a container filled with leftover chicken. "How about we make a pasta salad? Callie likes those." The girls nodded their approval. "Would one of you get the pasta spirals out of the pantry?"
"I will," Cam said and leapt off her stool before Vivvy had a chance to hop down. "Which kind, Mommy? The colored ones or the plain ones?" she called out.
"Vivvy, which kind do you think?" Arizona asked as she filled a pot with water.
"The colored ones."
Cam proudly carried the bag into the kitchen and handed it to Arizona. "Are you gonna make 'nuff for Yang?" she asked.
"Well, Callie chooses who shares her lunch, but it will probably be Cristina."
Arizona was truly baffled by the twins' fascination with the resident. Of all the doctors in the hospital, Cristina Yang was the one who made the biggest impression on them.
"I hope we see Yang."
"I think you will and Callie will be happy to see you." Arizona began to cut up the vegetables while the water boiled. "Girls, why do you like Cristina - Yang - so much?"
"She's fun."
"And she's good at Mario Kart."
"And she likes to dance," Vivvy added. Cam hopped around like she was 'dancing it out'' and Vivvy twirled in a circle. "Can we listen to music and dance while we cook?"
"You may turn on the music, but not too loud."
"Thank you, Mommy." Vivvy raced Cam to the living room. After a little pushing and shoving and a little more bickering, they selected a CD.
The trio danced and sang around the kitchen while lunch was prepared. Once it was ready, they packed it up (PBJ for the girls, as well as some apple slices and carrot sticks), along with some dishes and silverware.
"Get your shoes and coats on, and we can leave," Arizona said. "Time to take Callie her lunch."
# # # # # # # # # #
Callie sat at the main desk in the ER, turning one way, then the other in the chair. It had been a painfully slow day. Beside her Cristina looked through the charts once more, hoping that someone could need surgery.
"This day is soooo-"
"Don't say it," Cristina cut her off. "Don't jinx us. Remember what happened last time you said that. We were slammed."
Callie scoffed. "I think I'd rather be slammed than this."
"No, not yet. We'll get busier tonight. Lots of drunk drivers on the roads."
Callie's phone vibrated in her pocket and she took it out. She smiled when she saw the text message from Arizona, informing her that lunch was ready in the break room.
"What? Are you getting sext messages from roller girl?" The resident looked like she was going to be sick.
"Nope. Lunchtime!"
Callie jumped up and headed out of the ER, her roommate close behind. She had a wide smile on her face when she saw Cam and Vivvy were sitting at the table. Cristina froze in the doorway. She wanted the food, but she didn't want to have to socialize with all of that perkiness.
"If you want food, you have to eat it here," Callie said under her breath, though her tone was threatening. "No grab and go."
"Torres…" she whined.
"Your choice, Yang. Stay and eat, or leave and eat cafeteria food."
"Damn you, Torres," Cristina cursed her.
"Yang!" The girls shouted as they stood up and happily waved at her.
Gritting her teeth, Cristina entered the room. "Hi, munchkins."
Callie greeted the girls with a kiss to the top of their heads, then she gave Arizona a kiss that was slightly longer than a peck. Cristina found the whole scene of domestic bliss nauseating.
"Sit. I was just getting the food out."
Arizona first took out the sandwiches, carrot sticks and apple slices for the girls. Cristina looked on, disappointed that Arizona had brought sandwiches. Arizona chuckled to herself when she noticed the look on her face. "Oh, don't worry, Dr. Yang. That's what the girls are having for lunch." She set some bowls and silverware out, then the container of pasta salad.
"What's that?" Callie asked.
"Pasta salad with chicken." She held up another container. "And homemade brownies for dessert."
Okay, I can sacrifice a few minutes with the munchkins and Robbins for this food, Cristina thought. She sat down opposite the twins and Callie, who was now seated between them. She soon found herself at the end of one of Callie's scariest looks.
"What?"
Callie subtly tilted her head toward Arizona and cleared her throat. Cristina's face was scrunched up in confusion. Callie gestured with her head once again.
"Is something wrong, Callie?" Arizona asked, a little disconcerted by the look on her face.
"Oh, no, nothing's wrong. Yang was just telling me how much she appreciates the food you bring us."
"Oh, really?" Arizona's demeanor perked up.
"Yeah, um, thanks for feeding us, Dr. Robbins," Cristina mumbled before shoving another bit of the pasta salad into her mouth.
"You're very welcome, Dr. Yang," Arizona smirked, knowing how uncomfortable Cristina was.
"Guess what, Yang," Cam said as she wiped her mouth with her sleeve, causing Cristina to inwardly shudder.
"Um, what?"
"Me and Vivvy get to ring in the New Year!" she announced.
"With hats and noisemakers," Vivvy added.
Callie's eyebrow raised in surprise. "Really? Midnight? Aren't they a little young for that?" Callie tried not to sound too judgemental but midnight was late for a couple of five-year-olds.
"Oh, they're not staying up until midnight. We're going to watch the ball drop in Times Square and count it down."
"I can't wait." Cam was excited.
"We fell asleep last year," Vivvy said sadly. "I wanted to count down."
"I'm sad I won't get to be there with you," Callie said. "It sounds like it will be fun."
Vivvy crawled onto Callie's lap and curled her arm around Callie's neck. "I wish you were gonna be with us, too."
If it weren't for the brownies sitting in the container, Cristina would've left. The happy little family moments were too much. As if sensing Cristina's unease, and seeing her empty bowl, Arizona pushed the container in Yang's direction. "You're free to go, Dr. Yang. Take a brownie on your way out."
Cristina said a quiet 'thank you', grabbed two brownies and hurried to make her escape.
"Happy New Year, Yang!" the girls shouted.
"You, too!" she answered, then darted out the door.
Arizona chuckled softly as she watched the resident scamper from the room. "That was surprising."
"What?"
"Yang's gratitude."
Shifting Vivvy to the side, Callie grunted as she took a bite of pasta. "She could be more grateful."
Arizona shrugged. "She could but I'm not going to lord it over her if she isn't. She has a lot on her plate right now between her issues with Hunt and a friend with cancer."
Callie stared at her in wonder. "How do you know all that?"
Arizona waved away the comment as she began packing up the tupperware containers. "It's hard not to hear all the gossip around this place, even if I don't really pay attention to it. Plus, the residents are always airing their dirty laundry in the halls."
"Why don't they use a dryer like Grandmom?" Vivvy asked.
The two adults shared a smile over the misunderstanding. "I mean, they talk about things they shouldn't. It's not the right time and place to talk about the things they do," she explained.
Callie glanced at her watch. "I better get back." She pressed a quick kiss to Vivvy's cheek and helped her down from her lap. Then, she rounded the table to do the same for Cam. "Have fun tonight, girls." She pressed a more meaningful kiss to Arizona's lips. "I love you. Thanks for lunch."
"Anytime. I love you, too." The trio waved at her as she slipped out of the door and around the corner. Arizona turned her attention to the twins. "So what should we do now?"
# # # # # # # # # #
"Torres, make yourself useful," Bailey ordered as she thrust a chart at her. "Exam Room Three."
"What do we have?" Callie asked, getting up from behind the desk.
"Drunk woman hurt her ankle." Bailey huffed. "Probably fell off her high heels."
"Can't an intern do it?" Callie whined.
"No. It's Ortho and you've been sitting on your behind most of the day."
Cristina snickered as she pretended to look at a chart. Bailey glared at her. "Yang! Don't you have something to do?"
"Uh, I… charts?"
"Go check the supplies," the chief resident ordered.
"Oh, c'mon, Bailey," Cristina complained. "That's a job for the nurses or the interns."
"Then go help Torres. Your choice."
Grumbling, the resident got up and headed for the exam room Callie had disappeared into. With a self-satisfied smile, Bailey sat down in one of the recently vacated chairs. She understood their frustration at being bored, but she also knew it would be feast or famine on New Year's Eve. It would either be agonizingly slow or they'd be overwhelmed and she wanted a minute to rest her feet in case it was the latter.
After thirty minutes of relative peace and quiet except for a few patients with minor injuries that she assigned to other residents and interns, the doors to the ER slid open. Two men entered, each carrying a stack of large pizza boxes.
"What in the world?" Bailey said to herself as she met them in the lobby. "What are you doing here? Who ordered these?"
"Look, lady - "
"Doctor," Bailey corrected him. "Doctor Bailey."
"Look, Doc, we have an order for pizzas. Where do you want them?"
"I'm not paying for any pizzas. This must be a stupid prank."
"They're paid for. Now where do you want them?"
A bit flustered, Bailey led them to the break room near the ER. The tables were soon covered with a dozen pizza boxes.
"Happy New Year's, Doc," he said and he and his co-worker left.
"Is that pizza I smell?" Cristina asked when she returned from the exam room.
"Yes. Someone had pizzas delivered for the staff. Who in their right mind would have a dozen pizzas delivered to the ER?"
"Who cares? I'm hungry," Cristina said as she opened several of the boxes, trying to decide what kind to have.
"Did someone say pizza?" Callie asked, joining the other two.
"I swear you two could smell free food from the other side of the hospital," Bailey said.
"We're residents. We have to get the freebies before the interns," Callie said as she grabbed a paper plate and picked out two slices. "Did you order it, Bailey?"
Bailey gave Callie a sarcastic laugh. "Do I seem like the kind of person who would frivolously spend my hard earned money on a bunch of residents and interns?"
"No."
The three women sat down at a small round table in the break room. Other residents, interns, nurses, orderlies and anyone else working in the ER, trickled into the room to snag a slice or two of pizza before leaving.
"Did you have a nice Christmas, Bailey?" The chief resident had gone home to Baltimore for a few days over the holidays.
"Yes, thank you for asking. Did you?"
"Yes." Callie took out her phone and showed Bailey the picture of the four of them in front of the Christmas tree.
Cristina looked over at it and made a gagging motion with her finger. "Matching pajamas? What happened to the badass Torres that used to roam the halls here?"
"Hush," Bailey admonished her. "I think it's very sweet." Bailey always had a soft spot for children, which is one of the reasons why Arizona kept trying to persuade her to go for a peds fellowship. She handed the phone back to Callie just as it began to vibrate.
"Hi," Callie said as she answered the phone.
"Happy New Year, Callie!" the girls shouted loud enough for Bailey and Cristina to hear.
Callie held the phone away from her ear as the sound of horns blasted through. "Happy New Year to you!" Callie said, once the horn tooting had stopped.
"We got to count down with Grandmom and Grandpop," Vivvy said, excited.
"You did?"
"Yes, and Mommy gave us a special drink."
"It had bubbles in it."
"Not champagne," Arizona quickly said, making sure that Callie knew it was non-alcoholic. "Sparkling cider."
"Should've given them champagne," Cristina muttered before stuffing another bite of pizza in her mouth.
"Yang!" Callie admonished tersely, only to have an excited "Yang!" from the girls echo through the phone.
"What?"
Callie just shook her head and returned her attention back to her phone call. "What'd you do after lunch?"
"Oh, the girls and I ran a few errands, played some Wii and then ordered pizza from Lugia's for dinner."
"Oh year? Somebody ordered pizza for the ER tonight from there. We're eating it right now."
"Really?"
Arizona's voice pitched higher and Callie became suspicious. "Arizona - "
"Oh, look at the time. It's getting late. I need to get the girls to bed. I love you."
"Love you, too. Kiss the girls goodnight for me."
"I will. Happy New Year."
The call ended, and then seconds later Callie's phone beeped, indicating a message. She opened it up to find a picture of Arizona and the twins. Vivvy was wearing a gold and black tiara with feathers. Cam's black and gold top hat had slipped and almost covered her eyes. Arizona was wearing a pair of gold colored oversized glasses with "20" on one lens and "07" on the other. She grinned then tucked her phone back into her pocket.
She watched Cristina elbow her way over to the pizza and grab another slice. Seeing the Lugia's logo on the pizza box made her think about Arizona's reaction when they talked about pizza. "You know, I'm pretty sure Arizona ordered the pizza," Callie thought aloud. "She told me that she and the girls had Lugia's pizza tonight for dinner."
"I knew roller girl wouldn't let me down," Cristina said as she munched on her third slice of pizza.
"Breakfast and lunch wasn't enough for you?"
"No."
"What are you two talking about?" Bailey asked.
"Arizona's been making extra when she brings meals to work for me. Yang has been helping herself to them."
"The munchkins said it was mine," Cristina defended.
"Right. The munchkins that you can barely tolerate." Callie rolled her eyes, shaking her head over Cristina's attitude towards the twins.
"They're okay, in small doses," Cristina admitted with a shrug of her shoulders.
"I'll remember that the next time we need a babysitter."
"NO WAY! I'm not going to get in trouble with them again." Cristina grabbed what was left of her slice and bolted from the room, Callie and Bailey's laughter filling the room.
# # # # # # # # # #
"You're both staying? Arizona asked her parents a few hours later.
"Well, yes. Why wouldn't we?" Barbara responded as though it were obvious.
"Who's gonna stay with Nick?"
"Teddy's with him now."
"And you're leaving them unchaperoned?"
"Oh for heaven's sake, Arizona, they're both adults. It's only for a few hours. How much trouble can they get into?"
Arizona thought back to the few times she'd been left alone as a teenager. "Plenty," she said knowingly.
"Besides, Nick can barely get up from the sofa right now. Even if he can't, they deserve some privacy once in a while."
"Plenty of trouble can be had on a sofa," Arizona muttered to herself as she reflected on what she and Callie had done on Christmas Eve on the very couch they were currently sitting on.
"What's that, dear?"
"Nothing, Mom."
"Well I happen to think it's sweet that Teddy is willing to spend her New Year's with Nick, while he's recovering from chemo."
"Don't think sweet's what they had in mind," Arizona smirked.
"Arizona!" Barbara chastised her. "They are certainly entitled to some alone time, just like you're planning some alone time with Callie tonight."
"Right. Alone time. In a hospital full of people."
"Well I certainly don't begrudge Nick and Teddy a kiss at midnight, just like I don't begrudge you going to the hospital to give Callie a kiss."
"Might even steal a kiss from your mom at midnight," Daniel teased as his wife's cheeks reddened.
"Ewww." Arizona shook her head at the image of her parents kissing. "On that note, I'm going to head to the hospital now so I'm there before midnight. Thanks for staying with the girls. I won't be too late."
"Take your time and be careful on the roads."
"I will."
Still cringing at the thought of her parents ringing in the new year with a kiss, Arizona grabbed the tote bag she'd packed and headed out. She hoped Callie wasn't busy with a patient. If she remembered her New Year's shifts in the past correctly, she found it was never at midnight when they got busy in the ER, but always after.
Arizona parked in the employee lot, stopping for a moment to flip up the collar of her coat before exiting her SUV. It wasn't raining, but the temperature had dropped to near freezing. She grabbed her tote bag and hurried into the employee entrance.
The ER was as she expected - super quiet. A couple of interns were shooting baskets with a rolled up paper bag, Cristina was spinning around in a chair at the desk and Bailey was reviewing charts, Callie was tilted back in a chair, her legs up on the desk and a sudoku puzzle in hand.
Arizona stealthily approached Callie who remained focused on her puzzle. "Haven't solved it yet?" she teased.
Startled, Callie nearly tipped out of her chair, the puzzle falling from her hands. "Arizona! What are you doing here?"
"Did you really think I would ring in the New Year without you?" she asked, setting the tote bag on the desk.
"I didn't think we could."
"Well, I for one, am going to start the new year off right with my girlfriend." She looked at the clock and saw that it was only a few minutes to midnight. "Can you take a break?"
"You bet I can." She got up from her chair. "I'm taking a break, Bailey," she announced.
"Did I say you could take a break?"
"Well, no, but, c'mon, Bailey," Callie whined. "It's dead right now."
"Fine, fine. But don't be gone too long."
"Just long enough for you to get your freak on," Cristina said.
"Yang!"
"Come with me, Calliope," Arizona said, picking up the tote with one hand and taking Callie's hand with her other. "It's almost midnight."
Callie let herself be led to the nearest unoccupied on-call room. Arizona opened the tote bag and took out two plastic champagne glasses and a bottle of the sparkling cider all while looking at the clock. She poured two glasses, handing Callie one. "I know it's not champagne, but it's the best I could do considering you're at work and I have to drive later."
"This is great," Callie responded, touched by Arizona's thoughtfulness.
"It's almost time."
They watched the clock, and then counted down the last ten seconds. "Happy New Year, Calliope."
"Happy New Year."
They kissed once, careful not to spill their drinks. "I'd like to make a toast," Arizona said. Callie wasn't surprised by Arizona wanting to say something. She'd learned by now that Arizona was a pretty fair speechmaker. "A year ago I was sitting at home, alone, and feeling pretty miserable. I didn't believe, I couldn't imagine, that I'd be so happy a year later, with a girlfriend I love." She lifted her glass. "To even better New Year's ahead."
"I love you," Callie said simply, and they lightly knocked their glasses together.
Arizona finished her drink, then set the glass down on the small table next to the bed. She placed her hand tenderly on Callie's cheek. "I love you so much, Calliope Torres. I look forward to celebrating many more New Year's with you." She leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips, then deepened the kiss.
Callie's empty glass fell to the floor as she pulled Arizona into her arms and returned the kiss with increasing passion. She started edging them closer to the bed when her pager sounded.
"Damnit," Arizona cursed, her voice full of want.
"It's probably just Yang being a jerk," Callie said, moving in for another kiss.
"No more food for her," Arizona joked.
Calie's pager beeped again and this time she stopped her actions and pulled it out. "It's 911," she said as they both heard the sirens of more than one ambulance approaching.
"Maybe I can help," Arizona offered as they ran from the room.
"What have we got?" Callie asked Bailey.
"MVA. Robbins?" Bailey asked her.
"Thought you could use an extra pair of hands."
"Always."
As Callie and Arizona gowned up, they both knew that while it might be the first time they worked side by side on a holiday, it certainly wouldn't be the last.
# # # # # # # # # #
It was rare that Arizona, Callie and Teddy all had a Friday night off so they gathered at Arizona's house for dinner with Barbara, Daniel, Nick and of course, Cam and Vivvy.
"Sorry, Phoenix, I'm just not feeling up to eating," Nick said apologetically as he pushed his plate aside. He was tired of feeling sick and tired of feeling like a burden. He was just tired of being tired.
"Do you want a popsicle? I have some of those fruit juice ones."
"Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks."
"Any particular flavor?"
"Strawberry, if you got it."
Cam looked at the green beans on her plate, then longingly at the popsicle Arizona handed to Nick. "I wish I could have a popsicle for dinner."
"You can have one for dessert if you clean up your plate, including the green beans." Arizona didn't know when Cam had developed a dislike of green beans. She was usually pretty good about eating her vegetables. Mom always said children can be fickle with their tastes. I'm sure it'll change and next week she won't like something else.
Cam frowned before stuffing a green bean in her mouth.
"I wonder how Yang is going to survive tonight without one of your dinners," Teddy commented with a smile.
"She's had it too easy," Callie dismissed.
"I'm sure there will be plenty of leftovers that you can share."
"Cristina Yang is an adult and perfectly capable of feeding herself," Callie rebutted.
"It's nice to share," Vivvy piped up. "Mommy always says we should share."
"Who is this Yang person you're talking about?" Daniel asked.
"Yang!" the girls said together.
"Cristina Yang is Callie's roommate and a resident at the hospital," Arizona explained. "She watched the girls once."
"And we had lunch with her."
"More than once!"
"And Callie has been generously sharing her leftovers with her," Arizona added.
Even though Teddy had shared many meals with the Robbins family, she still found it hard to keep up with the chatter and banter that flew around the table. The twins for the most part were well behaved, and were actually pretty entertaining. She was certainly amused by their affection for Cristina Yang. Apparently, they didn't realize how uncomfortable the resident was around children.
"How about some Wii bowling after dinner?" Arizona suggested.
"I think that's a great idea," Callie agreed. Callie had gotten over her surge of jealousy and feelings of inadequacy she'd first felt when Nick had given them the Wii for Christmas. Seeing Vivvy wear her crown for days and Cam swinging her sword had helped, The unexpected money from Berto and Aria had also helped soothe her ire at Nick over his elaborate gift. Now that she had a little breathing room in her bank account, she could afford to take the kids to the zoo or the aquarium without needing to work nonstop for a whole month.
While Arizona and Callie cleaned up the kitchen, and took care of the food (including a container of leftovers for Cristina), Daniel and Teddy helped Nick into the living room where he bundled up on the sofa with a blanket. Cleanup done, Arizona began setting the game up.
"Why don't you ever play a game with us?" Cam asked Nick.
"I don't feel well and all the movement on the tv makes it worse. That's why I eat a lot of popsicles. They make me feel better."
"When we don't feel good, we get to sleep in Mommy's bed," Cam explained.
Callie was not a fan of that idea; Nick in Arizona's bed. Yeah, that was never going to happen. She saw Nick open his mouth to say something and she gave him one of her patented Torres glares, daring him to say one word. Wisely, he responded with a wink and a grin but no words.
"We get to have tea and toast, and sometimes applesauce," Vivvy further explained.
"I'd rather have a popsicle," Cam groused.
"Are you sick? Mommy's a doctor. She can make you better."
"Your mommy is a doctor for kids. Am I a kid?"
"No." Cam shook her head. Nick felt a sudden wave of nostalgia. In that brief moment, Cam looked so much like the Arizona he knew as a little girl it was uncanny.
"Do you have a broked bone? Callie fixed mine. She can fix you."
"No, I don't have a broken bone. Well, sort of, but it's not anything Callie can fix."
"Girls, Nick has something called cancer," Arizona interrupted.
"What's cancer?"
Nick gestured to Arizona that he would answer. "Well, cancer is like a monster inside of me and the medicine I have to take makes me feel sick." The girls exchanged a look and jumped up from the floor and ran upstairs. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, that was a good explanation. I don't know why they ran away."
Before Arizona had a chance to go after them, the girls returned minutes later. Cam was brandishing her sword and shield and Vivvy was wearing her crown, her wand clutched tightly in her hand.
"I can fight the monster with my sword," Cam offered, swinging it across her body several times.
"And I will make a spell to make it stay away," Vivvy said with a wave of the wand.
Arizona didn't know if she should laugh or cry. Callie sniffled beside her, letting her know how she felt and wrapped her in a tight hug. Barbara brought her hand to her mouth as if to choke back a sob.
"Come here, you two," Nick said, leaning forward and holding out his arms. "I wish it worked that way," he whispered, hugging them close. "But thank you. If I need a knight or princess to help, you will be the first ones I ask to help."
# # # # # # # # # #
Now that the holidays were over, the Grey sisters were no longer full of holiday cheer and had returned to their usual bickering. Yang didn't know which was worse - when they were getting along or when they were arguing all the time. She was no longer listening to them. Whatever it was this time she'd stopped caring. She just wished they'd shut up. A needle in her eye would be less painful than listening to them one more minute.
The click click click sound of expensive high heels heading toward her caught her attention and she looked up. Cristina Yang was raised with money and the woman in front of her oozed it in droves. She loathed to admit it, but she knew designer clothes when she saw them, and the women's outfit easily cost more than she made in a month, probably more than Mer, Lexie and her monthly salaries combined.
"Excuse me," the woman said. The icy, yet civil tone in her voice caused Meredith and Lexie to stop talking.
"Can we help you?" Lexie asked nervously.
Cristina was not one to be easily intimidated; neither was Meredith. Lexie, on the other hand, could be just by a stern word from a nurse. But this woman intimidated all three of them.
"Where might I find Dr. Torres?"
"I would try the ER - Emergency Room first," Lexie stammered, pointing down the hall in the direction of the ER.
"If she's not there, try the Peds department," Meredith offered.
"Thank you," she said and walked away.
"Who was that?" Lexie asked the other two.
"Do I look like I know her?"" Cristina responded sarcastically. "C'mon, Mer. We've got better things to do. Maybe there's a surgery we can scrub in on."
Lexie's curiosity got the better of her and she was eager to find Callie before the woman did. The ortho resident wasn't in the ER, nor was she on peds. Arizona thought she might be on the surgical floor.
"Callie!" she called out when she saw her standing at the nurses' station. She had just come out of surgery and was still in her scrub cap and surgical gown.
"What, Little Grey?" she asked brusquely without looking at her as she entered notes into a chart.
"Did the scary lady ever find you?" she asked breathlessly.
"What scary lady?"
Lexie suddenly paled and gasped when Callie heard a throat clear behind her, and then a familiar voice said, "That would probably be me."
Callie spun around as Lexie scurried off. "Mom!"
"Calliope."
"What are you doing here? Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"
"I'd like to talk with you. Now, if you please."
Resigned to having to speak with her mother, Callie pulled off her scrub cap and led the way down the hall. Spotting an open conference room, Callie opened the door. She gestured for her mother to sit down, then she closed the door.
"Where's Dad?" she asked, as she sat down opposite her mother. She sent a quick text to Arizona and tossed her phone on the table. She stared at the table in front of her, not meeting the other woman's gaze.
"Your father is busy with meetings right now. It's just a quick stop before heading to San Francisco. I wanted to have a word with you myself."
"About?" Callie had a feeling this was about her relationship with Arizona and regardless of what Yang and Mark had been telling her, there was no way she was going to lie about being with the woman she loved.
"You didn't come home for the holidays."
"I'm a surgical resident, Mother. Broken bones don't stop because of a calendar date."
Lucia narrowed her gaze at her daughter's sarcastic tone. "You haven't called or texted since your father was here in November."
Callie smacked the table with her open palm in frustration. "That's a lie! I've called, I've texted, I've emailed. Every time I've been ignored. So don't sit there and put this all on me. I've tried. I got a single sentence email from Aria stating that Daddy said no one was allowed to speak to me or of me with threat of disownment. So what exactly was I supposed to do?"
"You never reached out to me, Calliope."
Callie made a scoffing sound. "I've been in Seattle five years and I haven't had a single visit or call or even a text from you. We barely speak when I come home to Miami for visits. What would make me think I could reach out to you?"
"I'm still your mother."
"Now you want to be a mother?" she asked incredulously. "The only time you ever want to speak with me is to yell at me for something. Given the timing of your visit, I assume this is about Arizona."
Lucia's lips thinned into a firm line and her nostrils flared. "Your relationship with this woman…"
"Her name is Arizona."
"Is a sin and goes against God's…"
"Actually there is no scriptural doctrine about female relationships."
"Man shall not lie…"
Callie shook her head adamantly. "No! We are not going to do this."
Lucia's face reddened. "Those children deserve a father figure. You are standing in the way of that."
Callie laughed in surprise. "Even if Arizona and I break up one day, those girls will never have a dad in the traditional sense. They have an uncle and they have a grandfather for the male role models you're espousing."
"So you're really going to throw away everything we've done for you and provided for you, for what? So you can roll in the sheets with some tramp and her illegitimate brats?"
Callie stood abruptly. "Don't you ever speak about her that way! I don't need your money and all the trappings that come with it. I have a family here who accepts me for who I am and not what they can get from me."
"You're just playing house. You're not those children's mother and you never will be."
Callie scoffed. "Funny coming from you. You don't think daddy loves Aria, or is a father to her?"
Stung by Callie's words, Lucia recoiled in shock. Before she could respond, Callie's cell vibrated on the table showing Callie's lock screen of her and the girls in Santa hats. Callie grabbed the phone to see the message and quickly typed back a response before sliding the phone in her pocket.
Callie took a deep breath. "I think we're done here. You and daddy…"
"Could I see that picture?"
"What?"
"On your phone. There was a picture when it lit up. May I see it?" Lucia asked timidly.
Callie's eyebrows drew together in confusion, but she acquiesced to her mother's request. She pulled the phone from her pocket and tapped a button to show the picture of herself and the twins in Santa hats with silly grins.
Lucia traced her fingernail over Callie's features on the screen. "I can't recall the last time I saw you so carefree. You have such a beautiful smile. Are there others?"
"You want to see pictures of me and Arizona's girls?" she asked dumbfounded by the turn of events.
Her mother nodded hesitantly. "What are their names?"
She pulled up a photo from right after Christmas of the twins playing with their princess and knight costumes. "This one is Vivian Marie, goes by Vivvy. Very girly. Loves dance and Disney princesses. Her sister is Camilla Jean, Cam for short. She's more tomboyish, loves anything with a ball, kinda rough and tumble."
"They're twins?" Callie nodded. "How old are they?"
"Almost five and a half and are in kindergarten."
She pulled up their first day of school pictures. "Vivvy loves reading, very astute. Cam's just as smart, but she's like a little rhino the way she charges forward with things. Very protective of her family." She brought up the photo from Halloween of the four of them in costume.
Lucia laughed softly at Callie's Eeyore costume. "You never did like dressing up for Halloween."
Callie marveled at the sound of her mother's laughter. She struggled to remember a time she'd heard her laugh that way. She found the picture from Christmas morning with their matching pj's. "This is my current favorite."
"You look like a family," Lucia said in wonder. "She's very pretty, the girls' mother. They look like her."
"We area family, Mom." She took a deep breath. "Listen, Mom, there is nothing you can say or do that will stop me from loving Arizona and her girls. I may not be their mother right now but that could change one day. And when that day comes, they could be your granddaughters. So you can get on board now, or miss out on spoiling your grandkids." She pocketed her phone and walked over to the door. "The choice is yours. Get on board or stay the hell out of my life." With a tone of finality, she slammed the door behind her, leaving Lucia alone in the conference room with her thoughts.