"So Robbins, am I gonna have to hold your hand during this flight? Like a baby?"
"Oh gee thanks Nicole, real nice."
"What? If I have to coddle you for five hours I need to be prepared, make sure they have enough whisky on the plane. For me."
The blonde rolled her eyes, unsure whether to be offended or just accept that was the Fetal surgeon's way of distracting her. "Only you could mock my fear of flying after I was in a plane crash, stranded on the side of a mountain for four days and then have my leg amputated."
Herman's face remained unchanged. "It keeps you humble Robbins. Anyway, I don't know why you and Torres had to take separate flights, she'd have been better suited than me to keep you calm on this journey. Now, which way to the gate?"
Due to her mentor's inability to actually see her reaction, the blonde's quick head snap and gaping mouth wouldn't have been noticed. However, her brief silence before the denial would have been, without a doubt. Even so, she attempted to feign ignorance and continue with the façade. "Err, Callie has an Ortho conference in West Virginia in a couple of days…" then realising that may indicate if she didn't, she would have come with her, she quickly added "…and why would my ex-wife come anyway? My mum is bringing Sofia, who is absolutely coming. I can't wait to introduce you, but you have to be nice". She smiled just at the thought of her daughter.
Ignoring the question, Herman decided to attack the excuse first. "Oh yeah that completely made-up Ortho conference? Com'n Robbins I'm not blind", Arizona scoffed. "HA! Well maybe I am. Anyway you're obviously back together." She paused and faced the blonde. "What would you have done if I'd asked to speak to your mother whilst she was here?"
Arizona went to answer but like a sixth sense, Herman caught her before she started, and held up an index finger to silence her protégé. "I've noticed a change in you Robbins, you were never happy, not during our fellowship, our kick ass surgeries or anything. You were great, but the annoyingly chipper Arizona Robbins I'd heard so much about didn't exist. Then you suddenly became all happy, it's annoying."
"Really not liking your attitude today Nicole."
She shrugged. "So sue me."
Arizona was becoming more and more exacerbated, she just wanted to get on the plane, LAND SAFELY, go to her hotel, pick her family up the following day, open the centre and then spend time with Callie & Sofia. "Can we just go please? We're boarding."
"Not until you admit you and that fine ex-wife of yours are back together." Although she couldn't see the blonde's reaction, if Arizona wasn't going to openly admit it, she'd have some fun winding her up instead. "Okay, fair enough, my mistake. However you're clearly screwing her." Blue eyes tightened; it was working. "If that's all it is, then go for it, getting hot and heavy with your ex-wife works for you guys then I'm all for it. Although if you're not exclusive make sure you don't accidently run into another one of her conquests on your way out."
Triggered. "That is NOT what that is Nicole, we're together, again, we have been for a little over ten months, no one except Sofia knows. Not the hospital, not our family, no one." Arizona was a mix of flustered and insulted. As she settled down, she noticed the reaction to her rant. She had lost the cat and mouse game, again. She just didn't have any M&Ms to snatch away this time.
A wry smile started to form, worked like a charm. "Except me."
Sigh. "Yes, except you."
"For what it's worth, if my tumour, your fellowship and the women we want to save hasn't taught me life's too short, then nothing will. I'm happy for you Robbins, I know you wanted your family back, and I like Torres."
"Thank you, can you do me a favour? Don't mention it to anyone."
"Consider it done, no one I want to talk to would care anyway. Now, how many bars are there between here and the gate?"
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Arizona & Herman's new centre was based a mere 30 minutes away from Washington DC. Maryland may have seemed an odd location to open a second centre, especially as it was all the way across the country, but when the opportunity arose, they couldn't say no. Most of the training was to be done in Seattle though, both surgeons would have to visit periodically in the beginning but that would phase out as it became more established. In fact, one of Arizona's stipulations when considering Herman's offer was that she needed to be based in Seattle, and the majority of their teaching had to be done there too. Between the centre and continuing her work at Grey Sloan, albeit on a reduced hourly basis, the blonde was skilfully juggling her personal and private life. If any of her requirements were not met, if they weren't possible, she'd have declined Herman's offer or walk away, downtime was going to be maximised and spent with her girls.
Herman was completely agreeable.
"So, how you feeling Robbins? Got your ribbon cutting scissors ready? Got your speech prepared?"
She dumped her suitcase as she entered her hotel room trying to digest the questions. "Are you serious?" She was not prepared for anything of the sort.
The Fetal surgeon elaborated, as if it was obvious. "We have some of the best surgeons in the country attending Arizona, got to give it a little pizzazz, and we both know that's not my thing. You're the chirpy, perky, bubbly one. Just a few words, maybe start with a paragraph about how I made this whole thing possible with my funding grant, my excellent brain, correctly selecting you for the fellowship and moulding you into the great surgeon you are today, second best in the country probably, certainly the best who can see."
"Oh so basically you want me to say how great you are in front of everyone?"
"You learn quick Robbins, I like it." She ran her thumb over the braille on her card key, she was a couple of floors up from the blonde, she wanted a luxury suite. "Well I'll leave you to it- oh, before I forget, when's Torres and Sofia getting here?"
"Come on Nicole, I don't want to talk about it, we've been so careful, and I don't want to risk it coming out, please don't mention Callie for the rest of the trip, please."
"What? So I'm not even allowed to say 'Hi', I'm short and direct Robbins, not rude."
Admitting defeat, it was a bit OTT, but she was desperate for things to remain as they were, until everything she had planned was finalised. And oh, did she have plans. "Fine. I'm picking them up from the airport tomorrow in a cab, coming back here for a quick lunch before the opening in the afternoon. Happy?"
"I'm positively ecstatic." Her tone purposefully betraying her words.
"Urgh, why ask if you don't care?"
"I do care, you're just an easy wind up, god I love you Robbins, never change." She paused. "I take it your daughter doesn't have the same fear of flying as you do, two five-hour flights in less than 48 hours?"
"No she doesn't, she loves flying, but after the opening we're going to spend a couple of days touring our nation's capital before she heads back with Callie and I follow the day after."
"Anyone would think you were part of some sort of CIA/MI5 cover up." Realisation hit. "Wait, so that's why you wanted to stay for a couple more days? Leaving me with all the boring follow up stuff for the centre?"
Sounding guilty, but not really feeling it. "Yeah, are you mad?"
"Mad at you wanting to spend some time with your family?" She scoffed, grabbed the handle of her suitcase and turned to leave. "Rest up, grab some sleep overnight, then go pick up your girls Robbins."
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The day after her girlfriend landed, Callie and Sofia arrived at Sea-Tac with return tickets to Maryland clutched tight. She had briefly considered buying tickets to West Virginia too but decided that level of paranoia was one step too far. What did she think would happen? All the surgeons at Grey Sloan would visit her house, break in, go to her bedroom, look in her chest of drawers, see tickets to Maryland, know she was going to the opening of Arizona's centre, realise they were back together and then spread the news? For a moment or two, yes, that's exactly what she thought.
"Will we see mumma soon?"
Focusing her gaze away from the departure board, she squeezed the little hand in hers, bent down and stroked the other through her daughter's hair. "Yes mija, we'll see her in a few hours, she'll be meeting us at Washington Reagan, are you excited?" A beaming smile, enthusiastic nod and a light in her eyes only a child's love of their parent can convey, confirmed she was.
"Me too. All right then, let's go see mumma!"
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Airports had continued to cause the blonde anxiety, even if she wasn't the one about to take to the sky. She tracked the inbound flight on her phone, watching it slowly make its way across the country, intact. Her nerves for those five long hours all but forgotten when she saw her girlfriend and her mini-me walking towards her hand-in-hand. Then when her daughter caught sight of her, face fully lighting up and running towards her, every care left her body.
"Hey, there's my girls, you made it." She pulled Sofia in for a tight hug, eyes focused on Callie.
"Yeah, it was good, Sof slept for some of it but I don't think it'll throw her sleeping patterns off too much. How are you doing? How was the flight?"
Arizona grabbed Callie's wheelie suitcase whilst Callie picked up Sofia's previously hastily discarded backpack and made their way back to the waiting cab. "Flight was okay, could have used you and Sof being there, Nicole just got drunk and kept telling me how great blind… s - e - x is. Honestly Calliope, she was making the couple in front of us blush. Then she was talking about her plans for expanding the centre, some recommendations she'd received, stories about a young up & coming Addison... She talked for the whole five hours."
"So… she kept you preoccupied and took your mind off things for the entire flight?" Callie flashed a knowing smile as Arizona came to a complete stop. That is exactly what Herman had done, she hadn't even realised.
"Huh, yeah, I guess. That is typical Nicole Herman, she does… stuff and teaches you… things without you realising… it." Her vocabulary deserting her at that point. After being snapped out by a beautiful melodic chuckle by her side, she laced their fingers and didn't feel a trace of embarrassment on what was coming. "I missed you both so much, seeing you over FaceTime isn't nearly as good as real life, sleeping alone in the hotel room sucked, I need you with me."
Both had learnt from previous mistakes, in instinctive actions, thoughts that turned into actions and just thoughts in general. For instance, previously Callie may have scoffed that the notion was a bit extreme, or made fun of her girlfriend's admission, unintentionally embarrassing and/or dismissing her. But dismissing her feelings openly or inwardly was ultimately unfair and belittling. Who was she to judge? "I know honey, I missed you too", she interlocked their hands even tighter. "Our bed feels so cold and empty without you, not a fan of having you across the country, you belong with me," she gestured towards Sofia, "us."
"And there is nowhere else I'd rather be Calliope." She leant in for a slow, loving kiss, yes, one night away was too much. "We have it bad don't we?" The brunette nodded as she leaned in for another one. "Now come on, let's get you two out of here and grab some lunch at the hotel, that sound good baby girl?"
"Yes mumma!"
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"Reservation in the name of Roberta Jones."
Arizona stood slightly behind her girlfriend holding Sofia's hand. "You actually used a fake name? Calliope…" she laughed and gently caressed the tanned hand which remained on the luggage. "You're so cute you know that?" After grabbing her room key, they made their way towards a second room. Continuously being paranoid over being caught, they'd even booked separate rooms. On the opposite side of the country. It would probably take all their strength not to share one after being absent from each other's arms the night before, but they hadn't got this far without being meticulous… and paranoid. "So come on, what significance does the name Roberta Jones have? Should I be jealous?"
"Oh you know it. It's after Robert Jones, huge figure in establishing orthopaedics in the UK during the First World War. I thought it was quite apt. He's a bad ass."
"Hmm… you're an awesome bad ass, and your brain is so sexy and clever you know that?" They stepped into the elevator and without thinking, Arizona let it out. "Herman kinda knows about us by the way."
"What?"
Oh no. "Sh- she guessed an- and then-"
"-wound you up by claiming I was sleeping with other people."
Arizona's jaw dropped. "Have you spoken to her?! Calliope Tor-"
She smiled. "No Dr Robbins, I haven't". It seems the teasing of Arizona Robbins was just too much fun to pass up. "You forget I know you, you're so predictable, like my comment about needing a quick lay in the OR viewing room the other week." Using 'lay' in that content in front of a seven year old was okay right? "I knew it would make you break first."
"I'm sorry, I've told her she isn't even to mention your name over the next few days, but she said that was rude. Is that rude? I mean it's not that I don't want you two seeing each other, I mean or you seeing her, or Sofia, Sofia seeing her, not her seeing Sofia because she can't see Sofia-"
"Arizona, breathe, it's okay, Nicole isn't going to say anything. I'm here to enjoy the fresh air and outside with my beautiful girlfriend and our daughter. We've been restricted to inside dates in Seattle, I plan on walking the streets with your hand in mine and swinging our daughter along. So trust me, it's okay, we're good. Better than ever. I love you" She knew the blonde's ranting meant she needed reassurance.
"I think I just fell even more in love with you."
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They were equals in so many ways - surgeons, parents, innovators, intelligence for example but there were certainly two aspects Arizona thrived in more - public speaking & the actual speech itself. As she stood at the door of the new centre, Herman well off to the side, she addressed the 40-50 attendees. "Thank you all for coming to the opening of the second 'Robbins-Herman Center for Women's Health'. A ripple of applause spread through the audience. "Dr Herman and I are delighted to teach the next generation of Fetal surgeons and help bring our OB Crash Cart to every delivery floor in the country." After some more applause, her tone sobered. "The US's mortality rate for mother's during childbirth is needlessly high, and by introducing these emergency carts, we believe these numbers can significantly reduce. I couldn't be prouder and more humbled at the work we, our healthcare partners and our surgeons of tomorrow have done to get us to this point."
Callie told her she'd wear an orange top to stand out from the crowd, and make sure Sofia was stood on a bench or a railing or anything so she'd have an unobstructed view of this momentous event. It didn't take the blonde long to spot their daughter, she was indeed stood on a bench and being held at the waist by her girlfriend. The brunette adorned a breath-taking smile behind the iPhone she was holding up as she recorded the occasion. Arizona nearly lost it when Sofia lifted a handmade sign that said "I love you mumma" over her head.
Quickly wiping away a tear, she gestured towards a very relucent Nicole Herman to come to the front and say something. Of course she didn't do as asked, she simply leant in and offered a less than impressed sentiment. "Hi, I'm Dr Herman, thanks for coming, any questions please direct them towards Dr Robbins who will be happy to answer." And with that, she withdrew, leaving a very confused and suddenly exposed blonde standing there. But Arizona was quick on her feet. "Thank you, Dr Herman, yes we're both more than happy to answer any questions you may have."
There were a few from journalists both in the public forum and then after when the crowd had dispersed. Some entered the centre, others made phone calls, some stood around and exchanged thoughts and opinions with other like-minded professionals. The only two people Arizona cared about were busy getting into some sort of tickle fight as they waited for her.
"Hey, that was amazing-" Arizona pulled her girlfriend in for a life affirming kiss before she could finish her sentence, after an unknown amount of time she bent down and scattered seemingly hundreds of kisses around her daughter's head, face and cheeks. She looked at the sign and this time didn't attempt to hide the tears that formed. "Sofia insisted on making a sign, she's so proud of you, we both are."
"I did want to thank you personally, but with the press bring there, I chickened out. I'm sorry."
Callie pulled her in for a hug, sensing the genuine, unfounded guilt in her voice. She had nothing to apologise for, they were both completely committed and supported each other more than they ever did before. "Arizona, you have absolutely no reason to apologise-"
Their plans to bask in the embrace was halted when a strong voice unapologetically interrupted from behind. "-So Robbins, you're leaving me with showing everyone round huh? You do realise I'm blind? Hey Torres, good to see you."
You can add 'both are unsure on how to answer Dr Nicole Herman' to their list if joint qualities. Well, certainly traits if nothing else. Arizona turned to respond. "Er yeah of course Nicole, I- I just wanted to see my girls before we went inside." She cupped her daughter's chin and threw her a super magic smile. "We plan to show Sof round tomorrow when I can give a more personalised tour, so my pretty ladies are off to explore some parks whilst you & I do the PR stuff now."
"God sake Robbins, these press people and doctors know what a medical centre looks like, beds, charts, equipment etc. The aesthetics aren't important, explaining what the centre does, what you & I do, what future surgeons will do, our ideas, how it will revolutionise maternal medicine, that's what's important." She waited for any type of response, in the end she assumed Arizona was nervously looking round and Callie trying to catch her attention for guidance. It was the blind leading the blind looking at… the… blind? Anyway, she couldn't take their silence for much longer. "And you know what? I kinda know all of that stuff, better than you in fact. So I don't need you, I don't want you here. Go spend time with your not-so-secret girlfriend and gorgeous daughter. And for crying out loud when I talk can you actually respond? How am I supposed to you know you're still there if you don't answer me? Bad surgeons."
"Nicole-"
"Go Robbins, I've got it from here. I'll see you back at the hotel tonight. Although, if there's a tie on my door handle, don't come in, I'm… busy."
Callie clamped her hands round Sofia's ears, whilst nothing there was particularly suggestive, Herman did have the potential to turn from innocent to downright explicit in one sentence. As a rule, it's rude not to offer one more 'are you sure?' before accepting the chance that gets you out of something you don't want to do. So, like clockwork Arizona went there, "are you sure?"
"Am I talking to a brick wall? You know for someone so intelligent; you do worry me sometimes Robbins. See you later, figuratively of course, go have fun." With that, Herman grabbed her trusted cane and made her way back towards the centre.
Callie laughed. "Is she always like that?"
"Yes, yes she is."
"Well, you heard the lady, it's time to start our well-deserved family trip."
"I love you, you know that? Please tell me you know that."
"Of course I do, and I love you too, both of you". She grabbed a pale hand and Sofia took the other. "Now let's go enjoy spending some time round Washington DC with our baby girl."
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"So, has anyone asked you about the conference? Wilson maybe? Owen?"
Sitting on an old blanket in an even older janitorial room, the two were taking some downtime between surgeries to bring each other up to speed on their first joint day back. "No, I had all these stories and examples ready, anecdotes, memorised the weather but eh, no one ever cares about Ortho, so bit of a waste of time." Her indifferent tone to the question changed as she swiped to the next picture. "Oh I love this one! She looks adorable in your oversized Robbins-Herman lab coat, I think I've found my new wallpaper, you have to send that onto your folks and my Dad." She continued to swipe through the photos, her smile increasing after each one.
For Arizona's part, she hadn't taken anything in since her girlfriend said 'waste of time', it stung. Callie's comments were self-deprecating, and the blonde hated the brunette's lack of confidence about how little people respected her speciality. "Calliope", she hooked her finger under her chin and forcibly directed Callie's attention away from the phone to her. "Not only are you a great surgeon who saves lives, you're an artist who gives people their lives back. You are so gifted, so talented, you're changing the world with your research. Anyone worth anything knows that." She pulled her in for a kiss, hoping that put an end to the self-doubt.
Callie offered a quick smile after they withdrew, hoping to appease Arizona before quickly returning her attention back to the phone. "Oh my God my hair is all over the place in this one! I thought Seattle wind was bad but look, how many attempts did it take you before you can actually see my face?" She may have been slightly down about the lack of interest in her (fake) conference, but her love for all the pictures and selfies they took whilst in Washington DC was more than enough to bring her back to her happy place.
Enough was enough, Arizona snatched her phone away and laid her head into the crook of Callie's neck, slowly caressing her girlfriend's hair, cheek and neck whilst kissing her softly. She pulled their heads together so they were completely lost in each other's eyes. Between kisses, Arizona made sure her message was loud, clear and final. "You. Are. Amazing. Calliope." She handed back the phone, happy they could continue to go through the pictures now she'd won her argument.
Feeling the warmth and honesty in Arizona's words, she chanced a question she wouldn't have before. "So erm, I'm getting an award for my cartilage research next month, it's based in Portland. Would you come with Sofia? We can maybe drive? It's only a couple of hours and still just within school holiday time. I mean it's all Ortho so it might be bor-"
No soft caressing this time, the blonde simply grabbed the front of Callie's scrubs and pulled her in for a very firm, very passionate kiss. "I would love nothing more to share the honour with you, my love."
They snuggled up together, as much as their surroundings allowed for, and continued to swipe through the pictures from their trip. "I like how Sofia said she was going to live in there one day and paint the walls light green because a white house isn't edgy." If Arizona was going to teach her awesome, she was going to make sure edgy was defined as a cool quality.
"She also said wanted a large stuffed elephant toy in each room but was open to giraffes if they ran out."
"Mark would totally be running her Presidential campaign."
"On you know it, 'A vote for Torres is vote for a kick ass future', I can see it now."
"He'd be putting up billboards as we speak."
They both took a moment to remember their loved one, the missing member of their little family.
"Oh I love this one." Dimples.
"When did you take that?!"
"You looked so peaceful Calliope, I had to."
"Am I drooling?!"
"It's hardly noticeable".
"I noticed it!"
"Well what about that picture you got of me being attacked by a bird? It's not exactly my best side."
"The bird didn't attack you Arizona, it wanted some of your fries."
"Pfft, if that was a human Dr Torres, I could have pressed charges, it had huge talons."
"It had tiny claws, Dr Robbins."
"It might as well been a pterodactyl."
"I just wish I got your girly scream on video."
"Can I see that for a sec?" Arizona quickly leant over trying to grab Callie's phone from her hand, but was too slow this time, the Ortho surgeon's reaction immeasurable.
"No! You'll delete it!" She held it above her head, knowing her height advantage would render the blonde's attempt to grab it futile.
Arizona grunted between her words. "No I won't I just want to see one thing." She manoeuvred herself so she was on her knee, closing the distance.
But what she could do, Callie could do too. She wrangled her way from under her girlfriend's leaning body and started to get up from the floor. "No you don't, you want to delete the picture". After considering the implications, she so went there. "I'm going to use for our Christmas card this year."
You would not think the blonde had a prosthetic at how quickly she went from desperate leaning to outright leaping, they were both on their feet but, again, Callie still had the height advantage as she held the device out of reach. "Calliope Iphegenia Torres don't you dare! I'll send the drool picture to everyone in the hospital!"
"You said it wasn't noticeable!"
"I lied!"
"I hate you."
"You love me."
"I do."
"I'm gonna make you say that again one day you know."
"Not if I make you say it first."