"Ten months? Wow, has it really been that long?"
Leaning in to give her girlfriend a kiss on the cheek as an affirmative, she could only grin into the act. "Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?"
Turning to meet Arizona's gaze, a second kiss was mutually offered. "It does indeed."
They ate in comfortable silence, stealing the odd glance. Yes, Callie & Arizona had indeed rekindled their relationship 10 months ago on this date. The blonde had a short-lived rebound after the divorce and whilst the ghosting had wounded her pride, it did absolutely nothing to her heart, because her heart was sat next to her, now desperately trying to clean off some spilt lasagna from her scrub top.
She tutted, "Calliope, you're worse than Sofia."
Both surgeons attempted to clean the grease stain but failed, she'd need a new top. Truth be told Callie wasn't sure Arizona was even trying to help her and was just using it as an excuse to feel her up. For Arizona's part, it was 100% that.
"Not cool about teasing me with that ghosting comment in surgery by the way, I almost ditched this date. Or as the kids say, ghosted you."
Despite the equal part frustration and arousal their joint 'cleaning' effort had, the brunette couldn't hold back a goofy laugh. "I couldn't help it, especially with Kepner there." Her tone did revert to a more sincere one with the next comment. "Plus, it's the event that kinda got us back to this place, so whilst it sucked you got hurt, I'm not entirely sorry it happened", she grimaced, "does that make me a bad person?"
Before their reconciliation, she may have stormed off, but she was right, Eliza leaving her just gave her the impetus to lay it all on the line to Callie one night. They had attended therapy, but the pressure wasn't there like last time. There were no mind games, angst, hurt, stress or frustration, it was understanding how best to move forward, not heal something that was broken. They found themselves in a good place prior to it this time, whereas last time, they were fighting a losing battle. During the initial eight month split before reconciling, like Arizona, Callie also had a short, semi-casual (rebound) relationship. None of this was conventional, but neither were they. In light of this, the blonde only feigned hurt. "So you think me being humiliated deserved teasing about? In an OR?"
Another goofy laugh & grin came from the brunette, noting her girlfriend's tone, she was enjoying herself today. "I think her telling me that you still loved me deserves teasing about."
Yes, Arizona was never going to live this down. "Pfft, don't flatter yourself." She finished her bottle of water and gestured she was going to attempt to throw it in the bin across the room.
"What? Maybe if you hadn't told her how, what was the term you used?"
Practising her angles, the blonde rolled her eyes. "You know damn well Callio-"
"How 'stunning' I was and that you will 'always love me', I mean seriously Arizona, why did you tell her that? I mean it worked out well for me but come on." She was taking great delight in this line of questioning, the taunting was unrelentless.
Arizona had no pride with this, she hadn't even realised she said it to Eliza until her comments were met with silence. "She complimented how beautiful Sofia looked in a picture, said she was beautiful like her mother", she shrugged, still practising her aim, "and I just happened to say yes, her mother is stunning, she looks just like her and I'll always love her for giving me my baby girl. How was I supposed to know she meant me?"
Yes, Callie loved that story, she pulled the blonde in, cupping her cheek and both smiled into the kiss. Noticing the bottle still in her girlfriend's hand, her competitive side came out. "If you make that, we can spend the next", she looked at the clock on the wall, "10 minutes finishing our anniversary date in a not-so-innocent manner."
"Deal." With that promise, she wasn't risking it. Instead of attempting the throw, Arizona scooched off the bed, walked over to the bin, looked up, smirked at her girlfriend and dropped it in, the clang of the bottle hitting the bin brought knowing grins to both surgeons.
Not letting the smile drop, Callie raised her eyebrows, signalling her approval. "I like your tactic, Dr Robbins." Returning to the bed with a confident strut, Arizona grabbed both trays and laid them down on the floor. She lifted herself up onto the bed and straddled her girlfriend, 10 minutes was not nearly enough time for what they wanted to do, but their session before rounds that morning had satisfied their needs, for now.
Whilst Callie leant into the kiss, Arizona leant back, making the brunette pout, she was sure she was going to get some action. However, the mention of Sofia made the blonde's mind wander back to their discussion in the OR. "So, going back to what we talked about in surgery, when are you coming to put up the treehouse in my garden? Sofia wants a near enough carbon copy."
Realising she wasn't the one in the position of power here, the brunette still tried to rationalise why there was no point in building another one. Blaming Seattle weather? That was purely for prying eyes and ears in the OR, the real reason was more obvious. "Well, in a couple of weeks we'll all be living in your house, can't I just dismantle the one at mine then and put it up at yours in a couple of weeks?"
Correcting her girlfriend whilst stroking her hair, "our house, Calliope, our house."
It was an accidental slip, but Callie was pleased at how quickly she had been corrected. "So…? Can it wait? It's only a couple of weeks? I promise it'll be the first thing I do?" Her brown eyes fluttered, going from aroused to darn right cute, erugh, Arizona couldn't fight them.
"Fine, I suppose it makes sense, plus I mean with our trip to Maryland coming up, you might not technically have the time."
"Exactly Dr Robbins, I think opening your centre near our nation's capital is more important than building a treehouse, right?"
"I'll tell our daughter you said that."
"Shh, less talking, more kissing, doctor's orders."
"If you insist, Dr Torres."
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Wilson's ACL surgery had gone off without a hitch, Callie was positively buzzing with how well the resident had adapted to her specialty. As a result, she was letting her number one fan go through a list of upcoming specialised surgeries and could pick whichever one she wanted to scrub in on. That meant there was some time for her to focus on some research.
"An Ortho conference in West Virginia? Aren't they usually held in cities like Chicago, Boston, Houston etc?" Callie and Owen were sat in the attending's lounge, reviewing the history of artificial limbs, how they had developed and where the focus should be in the next period of enhancement. Sensors was the obvious answer, but the brunette did feel there was still room for improvement in weight and agility.
She didn't meet his gaze, instead she balanced one of the textbooks on her lap and scribbled something down on her pad, she knew what the next question was going to be and she wanted to avoid nervously stuttering. She offered further information on the event so a follow up might be avoided. "I know, it's a small gathering, mainly focused on the patella's growth journey, there's about 30 Orthopaedic surgeons going. Very niche, not advertised or funded."
"Would you like me to come?" Owen was so supportive of her career and art, even though it was dismissed in the beginning, so again, she knew he'd offer company.
Callie was impressed with her ability to make it look like she'd considered his request instead of screaming 'NO', which was her instinct. She looked up and pretended to think about her friend's kind offer to support her. At a completely fake event, with its fake destination only selected because it bordered Maryland, where a very real and important event was actually happening.
"No, it's okay thank you, I'll be fine, if I start to get nervous or want some company, I'll ask Wilson. She's so into Ortho, I need to keep her interested as much as I can, hence her having free rein of surgery choices in the next couple of weeks."
Owen returned his attention to his book, that made sense. "Sounds good Torres, she'll love it."
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"And he bought it?"
"Mmm hmm."
"He didn't insist or ask more questions why you didn't want him to go? Even with all your work together? Did you say you'd ask someone else?"
"Wilson."
"He believed you'd take a resident to a conference?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Do you-"
Sighing into the Arizona's shoulder, at what point did she think Callie was interested in having a conversation with her lips latched onto her neck? Making out in the supply closet like sexed up interns wasn't new for the two, not before they were married, during their marriage or apparently, even after their marriage. But Arizona was using their sparse free time talking about Owen and that was killing the mood.
She withdrew her body which left Arizona to drop a couple of inches to the floor, no longer being pinned up against the door, the release of contact did not amuse the fetal surgeon.
"What was it I said earlier? Less, talking, more making out with your hot girlfriend."
"Wait, she's here?!"
"Ha ha very funny Dr Robbins, want me to leave you hanging?"
"I want you to re-pin me against the door please."
With a smirk, they reverted back to their previous position. Before too long had past, they realised that their joint lack of presence in the hospital for an extended period might be noticed. They retrieved their tops and straightened out their hair, they gave each other the once over before approving the other's appearance. Before they left, the blonde did just want to seek one piece of clarification. "So, er, just to be clear, there is no Ortho conference in West Virginia and you're coming to the opening of the Robbins-Herman centre in Maryland with Sof?"
"That has literally been what we've been planning for the past few weeks and discussed during our anniversary lunch earlier." She pulled her in for another kiss, "you're so cute you know that?"
A kiss from Callie was always reassuring, it made her feel safe and secure. "Good, I just get nervous you know? I don't want to let people in on us yet." She needlessly straightened the lapels of the brunette's lab coat. "I know we'll tell them eventually, and I know they'll be happy for us, but I love our little pink bubble, and I don't want gossiping prying eyes on us again." They met for another kiss, her concerns were valid, they had always been centre of attention in the hospital's rumour mill.
Noting the vulnerability, Callie decided to pull her girlfriend in for a reassuring hug rather than kiss, she held her tight and close, agreeing with the blonde's comments. "I agree honey, I get nervous too, but not about us, not about where we're going, never doubt that, please. Okay?" Arizona whispered out an okay but just sank herself more into strong shoulders. Attempting to lighten the mood, Callie referenced their sneaky back & forth in the OR. "By the way, great line about your mum taking Sof to Maryland for the centre, even I believed it. I think we've convinced people we're over. That Callie and Arizona are finished."
Those last six words made Arizona immediately pull back, she looked at the Ortho surgeon and focused her stern eyes on brown ones. "Never say that again Calliope, ever."
Callie produced a life affirming, reassuring smile and leant in for a chaste kiss, "never again my love."
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"What? She's the sister of one of the mums at Harriet's play group, you'd like her."
Arizona inwardly rolled her eyes, yes she was hot, intelligent, funny, no doubt had people lining up for her, but she was with the love of her life (again) and was getting irked at people continuously trying to set her up. Standard answers incoming. 1- "I'm busy", 2- "I need to prioritise Sofia", 3- "I need to focus on the centre", 4- "and I'm not in a place to start dating."
April huffed, "You always say that…"
Yeah, hence, why they're the standard answers.
"...I know Eliza hurt you, but drinks with a beautiful woman couldn't hurt right? I just want you to be happy Arizona, you deserve to be happy. You need to make time for yourself, can I at least give you her number? Or give her yours? I think you'd really hit it off."
Kepner was like a dog with a bone. She sighed and replaced the pen in her lab coat, putting all of her focus on the trauma surgeon. "April, listen, I really appreciate you looking out for me, really I do. I have been on dates with… people, I have moved on from Eliza and Callie, but at the moment I'm not in a position to, I don't want to date either. Once the centre is up and self-sufficient, I'll go online dating or something. Happy?" Arizona nearly slipped, but managed not to elaborate on 'dates', she didn't want to mention that these dates had all been with her ex-wife at the time, slowly transitioning to girlfriend. She smiled at the thought.
"Okay, fine, as long as you're happy. I'll leave it", she gave her friend a pointed look, "for now."
As April walked away admitting defeat, the blonde grabbed her tablet and made her way to the Peds ward. All she wanted at that point was to be with Callie, it was her joint second favourite thing, joint with spending time with Sofia. Her most favourite thing was spending time with them both as a family. Her family. To enable some quality time together that afternoon, they had agreed to watch one of Meredith Grey's surgeries. There may be some interest from interns and residents but as the general surgeon's peers were all attendings, and therefore by association so were theirs, they had more chance of going unnoticed.
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"So are you exclusively women now or still dip your toe in the… penis pool?"
Callie groaned. "Really? You're certified in OG and Maternal & Fetal medicine, and that's the best you've got?"
"I'm trying to be subtle."
"There is nothing subtle about penis pool. And besides, when did you ever do subtle Montgomery?" Like April did for Arizona, Addison was always trying to play matchmaker for her friend. Due to her ranking and reputation within the medical community, the redhead knew a plethora of eligible lads and lasses, and was keen to help Callie back on the horse.
"I'm not even going medical this time" she pleaded as her friend started to walk away. "I know you're done with dating doctors and nurses, you've told me, but this guy is different", she positioned herself in front of Callie to halt her stride. She counted the points on her finger as she went. "My neighbour, 39, divorced, father of one, aged six, construction worker, great abs, funny as hell, 6 foot something, did I mention great abs? I have great taste and know what you look for in a partner Callie, I tell you, he could be the one." April may have been annoying in her persistence, but Addison was downright cocky in hers. One redhead suggested people for the blonde, the other was near enough marrying the brunette off.
Callie winced when she heard 'he could be the one', but also felt inwardly smug. She wasn't often wrong, especially with medicine, but Addison was 100% incorrect with that statement. She had spent the morning ravishing her 'one', dropped their child off at school together, performed awesome surgery with her and then got extremely close to performing inappropriate behaviour in the workplace with her a few minutes ago. Realising she had been quiet for some time, she threw out her own standard responses. 1- "I'm busy", 2- "I need to prioritise Sofia", 3- "I need to focus on my research", 4- "and I'm not in a place to start dating." So just swap centre for research.
With a roll of the eyes, she held her hands up in defeat. "It's just you've seemed so happy lately that I thought you'd be ready to start dating again." It wasn't like her to go soppy, especially with Callie, but she wanted her friend to be happy, and was fine with showing that. "You have so much love to give, you deserve to give your heart to someone and to receive it back. You're smart, funny, innovative, fun to be around… just, please say you'll think about it. If not my catch of a neighbour then fine, but don't close yourself off."
"Okay Addie, I promise I will open myself up for love again". She was doing a great job at lying today, in the OR, to Owen and now Addison. The only time she hadn't lied whilst in these walls was when she was with her girlfriend in the supply closet.
"Good. Okay, so going off the topic of your love life, when are you off? Fancy going to Joe's?"
"I'm off shortly, but I want to watch Grey's surgery that starts in 30, got to support my fellow head of department, right?"
The redhead almost sounded incredulous. "Wait. You're passing the opportunity to get wasted and have fun with your best friend, and the potential of getting laid, to watch a basic surgery performed by another colleague, whilst off the clock?"
"First of all Addie, Meredith is a great friend, and second, you are correct. Enjoy Joe's."
As Callie made her way to OR2, she could only laugh when she heard her friend shouting at her as their distance increased. "Penis pool Torres, penis pool!"
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They were right in their assumption; the viewing room was solely residents and interns.
They purposely entered late and separately, the only hint that it wasn't a chance meeting was when Callie gave a resident the 'this seat is taken, get your ass off the chair before I break your bones' look. Moments later, Arizona slipped in took the spot.
"Hey, didn't expect to see you here." She blindly offered her girlfriend some M&Ms from the bag, the brunette grabbed a few and dropped them all in her mouth. She rolled her eyes, "You know, if that was Sofia, you'd warn her about the hazards of choking." Callie turned her head and gave her other half a cute wink, resulting in a bright blush appearing over Arizona's cheeks.
The brunette returned her attention back to the operating table, under her breath, just so only her and Arizona could hear, she bragged. "Still got it." A playful slap across her forearm confirmed her confident remark had indeed been heard.
They watched in silence for a bit, they were both surveying the room, seeing if they could have any type of conversation due to the audience. They didn't really know the interns, but the residents had been on their service at some point. Arizona chanced a conversation, starting with the mundane stuff first. "So, Grey reckons it could be a new record?"
"Yeah, she mentioned they were the biggest kidney stones she'd seen. She's got a bet with Bailey, who's adamant the one's she removed in her residency were bigger."
Arizona nodded in acceptance, God this topic was boring.
Knowing she had been on the end of some light mocking earlier, she decided to get her own back. "So Dr Torres, is it okay if you have Sofia tomorrow night?"
"Of course, why's that?" They had been together most nights for months, but sometimes Herman still monopolised Arizona's time. There was a point this angered Callie, but after they discussed the topic together and in therapy, she came to understand it's importance to her girlfriend. What Arizona had never actually said previously is that whilst her work meant a lot to her, it was completely secondary to their family, in fact everything in life was.
"April's set me up on a date with an aunt of one of Harriet's friends in play group."
Callie knew this game and was not going to bite, her eyes simply remained on Grey as she took another handful of M&Ms. "Funny you should say that Dr Robbins, Dr Montgomery did the same with me and her neighbour earlier, construction worker with great abs apparently." She knew they were both comfortable and confident in their dedication, but the chance to make each other jealous in a public setting was too much fun to pass up.
Arizona struggled with her jealously more than Callie, but managed to push it aside. "Oh wow, well you gotta admire a great body right? And I trust Addison's judgement." In a completely nonchalant tone, she asked her follow up. "So when is it? Would you like me to have Sof?"
Hmm, the blonde didn't take the bait. Dammit. "Saturday, he's taking me to the Space Needle."
Despite the fact they had been together for 10 months, and that they were girlfriends, and that they'd be going home together tonight, and that they were moving back in together, and that they were going to the opening of Arizona's centre together aaand that it was a completely fictious date, the blonde still scoffed. "How original, sounds a keeper."
"Yeah, I just need a quick lay to be honest." The pack of M&Ms was abruptly snatched away when she went for another grab. Oh yeah, that had definitely awoken the green-eyed monster.
Arizona pursed her lips, stood up, pretended she was taking a final look at the surgery (which to be honest, she had absolutely no idea at what stage Grey was at) and smiled towards her ex-wife. "Well, I best be off. It's been a hard day and I'm looking forward to curling up in my nice big bed", she lowered herself to Callie's ear. "Alone."
Callie was still not going to bite. "Sounds a good plan, I'll see you tomorrow?"
Great, she had to admit defeat, her Type-A mentality always took a knock when it came to her girlfriend. She leant down one last time before making her exit, voice just under a whisper. "You better be joining me Dr Torres, we need to celebrate our anniversary properly."
Halfway down the hall her phone buzzed, she retrieved it from her pocket and smiled her dimpled smile.
'Indeed we do Dr Robbins, I'll leave shortly. You're my world, I love you, see you soon xx'