How did friends communicate before WhatsApp?
Callie & Arizona's secret had lasted, what? Two? Maybe three days until the rumour mill at Grey Sloan was in overdrive. And it was solely the fault of Dr Arizona Robbins, she had clearly overlooked the 'no telling' policy. Although to be fair, she hadn't explicitly told anyone verbally, but she had definitely forgotten how to hide being happy, and only two people made her happy. It wasn't hard for their village to put two & two together, and after getting the two confidants drunk on Tequila one evening, Meredith broke.
April: So they're on their date now?
Meredith: Yep, Arizona picked Callie up a few minutes ago
April: How did they look?
Meredith: Hot, Callie made 3 outfit changes
Teddy: Arizona must have tried on 5 dresses but knew how Callie liked her hair
Meredith: I had to give Callie a pep talk, she was so nervous
Alex: Well my little dudette is all settled in for the night
Cristina: How many friendship bracelets did she make for you?
Alex: 6, plus 1 for Torres, 1 for Robbins, 2 for Kepner and 2 for Zola.
Cristina: WHAT, Kepner gets 2?!
Alex: Chill Yang, I'll make you one
Cristina: I don't want your pity bracelet, evil spawn
April: I knew she liked me best
Cristina: She knows you have no friends and felt sorry for you
Meredith: Was Arizona nervous?
Teddy: You have no idea
April: She doesn't think she's worthy of Callie
Meredith: Why?
April: Because of everything
Meredith: Well Callie doesn't think that
Alex: Can't believe they weren't gonna tell anyone
April: I can't believe they thought Arizona wouldn't give it away
Amelia: I can't believe they thought Meredith wouldn't give it away
Cristina: I can't believe Callie picked Mer
Meredith: I'm a good friend
Cristina: Well whatever, as long as they're happy
Amelia: Is Cristina Yang rooting for her friends?
Cristina: Colleagues, we've been through this
Alex: Dude, you totally ship them
Cristina: Don't you have my goddaughter to look after?
Amelia: Grey, Altman, will you be giving status updates? You're all clearly invested
Meredith: We've been sworn to secrecy
April: To be fair that went out the window as soon as Arizona wore her heelies again
Alex: Yeah, she only heelies when she's happy and confident
Amelia: When was the last time?
Meredith: Take a guess
Amelia: Before the crash?
Alex: Bingo
Cristina: Did anyone have heelies in the sweepstake?
Amelia: Still can't believe you bet on your friends' happiness
Cristina: Colleagues'
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Neither Meredith or Teddy had heard from the pair the night before, unsure if that was a good sign or a bad sign. However, both surgeons usually sought Sofia after an argument, and the fact Alex had confirmed there had been so such approach, led to positive thoughts.
Teddy studied both the board and her friend as she slowly approached. "So, you and Torres are in surgery together later", she turned her attention to the blonde, "isn't this a peds case?"
Feigning complete ignorance, "Is it?"
"Well, the patient is, you know, born. So it's not foetal."
"Huh", again completely faking surprise, "so it is. Alex must have double booked himself."
"Are you sneaking yourself onto orthopaedic surgeries Dr Robbins?"
"No, orthopaedics are sneaking onto a my surgeries, Dr Altman."
"So you're leading surgeon?"
She bounced excitedly on her toes. "Yup."
"That's good then", Teddy turned her attention back to the board, "because Torres got pulled into an emergency, so you'll be getting Dr Rhodes."
Arizona near enough gave herself whiplash at that comment. "What?!"
Shit eating grin. "Ha, joking."
"I hate you Altman."
The cardio surgeon laughed at how quickly her friend broke. "So how did it go?"
Oop, there went Arizona's gaze, she started to drift into nothingness, brain filled of only her person. "It was everything, we laughed, flirted, got a bit handsy…", she returned her focus to Teddy, "…it was just how it was before, only with a deeper connection, I haven't been this happy in years." Whilst the admission came as no shock, her optimism did wane somewhat due to her next thoughts. "We've got a second date but I know we need to have another difficult conversation first, and I know what it's going to be about." Her stomach inadvertently clenched.
Teddy gave a knowing nod, nothing more needed to be said.
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"Get any cheeseburger last night?"
"I swear to god Grey-"
"Relax Callie, I'm only teasing. Although you do have a post-sex glow to you."
"There was no sex!" Although their activities hadn't exactly been child friendly once they entered the house. "Nothing further happened".
Well unless you count the 'accidental' groping, which Arizona was totally down for anyway.
Paying for both their coffees, they turned and headed towards the hospital. "So the date went well?"
Arizona tended to let her mind drift off when reminiscing, but Callie adorned the most adorable goofy grin. "It was fantastic Mer, I haven't been this happy in years." Snap. "I couldn't get enough of her laugh, her dimples, the way she throws her head back when she laughs…"
"Oh you got it bad Torres."
"I do, I really do."
"So what's the next step? A second date? Or do you have one of your conversations before then?"
Callie grimaced slightly. "Yeah, I think we need to have one."
"Maybe the one?"
She exhaled a deep breath and simply nodded.
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Callie's heart was racing, this topic was always on the agenda, but they were so happy in their bubble. It had slowly crept up on them and now was at the forefront. She texted her person asking if they could meet in the stairwell between the fourth and fifth floor, knowing it was a quiet place as no one frequented them often.
The perky blonde opened the door and wheeled her way to her person, flinging her arms over her neck. "Hi."
Callie's goofy grin returned. "Hi". They proceeded to enjoy a (second) good morning kiss before the ortho surgeon reluctantly pulled away. "Hey, so I erm, we have our next date Thursday right? Then our day with Sofia at the amusement park on Saturday?"
"Yup, the highlights of my week!" Dimples.
This was going to take a turn. "I erm, was wondering, maybe we could have another talk, before Thursday? Maybe even tonight?"
Arizona's arms loosened, they remained connected, but she had to find an angle where she could look Callie in the eyes. "I think tonight? I don't want to go into the rest of our week with…"
Her.
"…stuff hanging over our head."
Neither face was smiling like they were moments ago, but there wasn't any angst either. They planted one more kiss against each other's lips before making their way back to the hall. After noticing the board as she made her way in earlier, the brunette couldn't resist. "So, you're stalking me in my surgeries now Dr Robbins?"
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Cristina: So it's going to be the talk?
Meredith: Yep
Cristina: Well, this will probably be the test
Meredith: I've got Sofia for the night
Amelia: Everyone's being so cryptic, what's the talk?
Cristina: Roller Girl getting it on with two other women whilst married
April: Leave it Yang, you know it's not that simple
Cristina: I heard the vows Kepner, I was there
April: So was I, but things happen
Cristina: Don't tell me you'd be okay if Avery screwed other women when you were together?
Meredith: Guys, let them have their time with this one
Teddy: I still don't get it, she's not the cheating kind, it goes against her character
April: That's why I said stuff happens, Arizona wasn't… Arizona
Cristina: Well her wedding rings were on Boswell's top so if it wasn't Arizona, Callie practices polygyny
Alex: Dude, PTSD does stuff to you, Altman knows, warzone and everything
Cristina: Mer & I were in the plane too you know
Alex: Yeah but you came out unscathed
Meredith: I guess losing my sister doesn't count as trauma
Alex: Sorry Mer, that's not what I meant, sorry
Meredith: I know, but I was there, I heard Arizona scream and cry all the time for Callie. I agree with Teddy, the Arizona before wouldn't cheat
Teddy: PTSD is real, and if Arizona never addressed it, reactions and coping manifest in different ways. It's just this time it was the most heartbreaking
April: Callie knows PTSD, and they got through this part before but by the sounds if it, they never actually talked?
Cristina: Nope
Meredith: Arizona has to apologise for actually doing it this time, not just saying it was a mistake. And no prompting Teddy, if she doesn't realise this on her own, I don't want Callie to get hurt again
Teddy: Consider me quiet, but I think she does know, that she didn't handle it right last time
Amelia: Are they gonna make it? You're not betting money on a dead horse?
April: They will, they're strong
Teddy: 100%
Meredith: Stronger together
With that, the group chat fell silent, tomorrow at the hospital was going to be tense.